2025 ICD-10-CM code T79.7
Traumatic subcutaneous emphysema.
The 7th character is required for this code to indicate the encounter type (A=initial encounter, D=subsequent encounter, S=sequela).
Medical necessity is established by the presence of subcutaneous emphysema resulting from trauma or injury.
Clinicians should document the presence of subcutaneous emphysema, its location, and the associated injury.
In simple words: Presence of air trapped beneath the skin's surface due to an injury.
Traumatic subcutaneous emphysema. Excludes2: emphysema NOS (J43) and emphysema (subcutaneous) resulting from a procedure (T81.82)
Example 1: A patient presents to the emergency department after a motor vehicle accident with crepitus upon palpation of the chest wall, indicating subcutaneous emphysema., A patient sustains a rib fracture during a fall, and subsequent imaging reveals subcutaneous emphysema surrounding the fracture site., A patient undergoes a tracheostomy, and develops subcutaneous emphysema in the neck area as a complication of the procedure. In this scenario T81.82 would be appropriate to use.
Documentation should include the cause, location, and extent of the subcutaneous emphysema, and any associated injuries or procedures.
** This code excludes emphysema not otherwise specified (J43) and subcutaneous emphysema resulting from a procedure (T81.82).
- Specialties:Emergency Medicine, Trauma Surgery, Critical Care,Pulmonology
- Place of Service:Inpatient Hospital, Emergency Room - Hospital, Office