2025 ICD-10-CM code V68.7XXS
Person on outside of heavy transport vehicle injured in a noncollision transport accident in a traffic accident, sequela.
Medical necessity for services related to V68.7XXS would be established by demonstrating the ongoing need for treatment of the sequelae of the original injury. This might include documentation of functional limitations, pain levels, and the impact of the condition on the patient's daily life.
The clinical responsibility for this code would typically fall upon the healthcare professionals treating the sequelae of the initial injury. This may include specialists such as orthopedists, neurologists, rehabilitation specialists, and pain management specialists, depending on the nature of the long-term effects.
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- Accidents (V00-X58) Transport accidents (V00-V99) Occupant of heavy transport vehicle injured in transport accident (V60-V69)
In simple words: This code refers to the long-term effects of an injury to someone riding on the outside of a large truck or similar vehicle when the vehicle was involved in a traffic accident that didn't involve a collision with another vehicle.
This code describes the long-term consequences (sequela) of an injury sustained by a person on the outside of a heavy transport vehicle (such as an 18-wheeler, armored car, or panel truck) involved in a noncollision traffic accident. This means the heavy transport vehicle did not collide with another vehicle or object, but the person on the outside was injured, for example by falling off.
Example 1: A worker riding on the back of a panel truck delivering construction materials falls off when the truck brakes suddenly to avoid hitting a pedestrian. Months later, the worker continues to experience chronic back pain and limited mobility as a result of the fall. This long-term back pain would be coded as V68.7XXS., An individual clinging to the side of an armored car during a security operation falls off when the vehicle makes a sharp turn. Years later, the individual still suffers from nerve damage in their leg, impacting their ability to walk normally. The continuing nerve damage would be coded as V68.7XXS., A person hitching a ride on the outside of an 18-wheeler loses their grip and falls onto the highway when the driver accelerates rapidly. Over time, the person develops post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) due to the traumatic experience. While the PTSD itself would be coded with a mental health diagnosis code, the long-term consequence stemming from the traffic accident would be coded with V68.7XXS in addition to the PTSD code.
Documentation should clearly indicate the original injury, the fact that it occurred while the patient was on the outside of a heavy transport vehicle involved in a noncollision traffic accident, and the current condition being treated as the sequela (late effect) of that injury. If additional codes are used to specify the nature of the sequelae, these should also be documented.