2025 ICD-10-CM code W21.0
(Active) Effective Date: N/A External causes of morbidity - Exposure to inanimate mechanical forces (W20-W49) 20 Feed
Struck by hit or thrown ball.
Medical necessity for the treatment of the injury resulting from being struck by a ball is determined by the specific injury sustained.The documentation should support the need for the services provided.
Clinicians should use this code as a secondary code to the primary injury code.It is important to document the specific type of ball involved and the circumstances of the injury.Additional external cause codes may be necessary to fully describe the event, such as the place of occurrence and activity of the patient at the time of the injury.
In simple words: The patient was accidentally injured by being hit with a thrown or batted ball.
Struck by hit or thrown ball. This code describes an accidental injury where the patient was struck by a hit or thrown ball. It excludes assault with sports equipment and striking against or being struck by sports equipment with a subsequent fall.
Example 1: A baseball player is hit by a pitched ball during a game, resulting in a contusion., A child is struck in the head by a thrown ball during recess, resulting in a concussion., A golfer is hit by a golf ball driven by another player, resulting in a laceration.
Documentation should clearly indicate that the injury was caused by being struck by a hit or thrown ball.Details about the type of ball, the location of the injury, and the circumstances surrounding the incident are essential.
** While there is no national mandate for external cause code reporting, providers are encouraged to report these codes voluntarily for injury research and prevention purposes. Specific payer requirements may vary.
- Specialties:Emergency Medicine, Sports Medicine, Pediatrics, Primary Care
- Place of Service:Office, Emergency Room - Hospital,School, Inpatient Hospital, Outpatient Hospital,Place of Employment - Worksite, Other Place of Service