A patient returns to the hospital outpatient department for routine follow-up of a healing fracture during the healing/recovery phase. Which seventh-character concept applies for the injury code?
Select an answer to reveal the explanation.
Short Explanation
Seventh characters for injuries track the chapter of the story, not the building you walk into. Still actively fixing the fresh injury? That is initial. Back for healing checks after active treatment? Subsequent. Dealing with a leftover scar or late effect later on? Sequela.
Full Explanation
Injury seventh characters reflect the phase of care: A for initial encounter during active treatment, D for subsequent encounters during the healing or recovery phase after active treatment, and S for sequela of the injury. Selection is driven by the clinical phase documented, not merely by whether the patient is new to a particular facility department. Routine fracture follow-up during healing typically uses the subsequent-encounter extension.