2025 ICD-10-CM code W32
(Active) Effective Date: N/A External causes of morbidity - Exposure to inanimate mechanical forces 20 Feed
Accidental handgun discharge and malfunction. Includes accidental discharge and malfunction of guns for single-hand use, such as pistols and revolvers.
The ICD-10-CM code W32 can be further specified using the 7th character extension to indicate the encounter type (initial encounter, subsequent encounter, or sequela).
The medical necessity for using W32 is established by the presence of an injury or adverse effect caused by the accidental discharge or malfunction of a handgun.Documentation must support the accidental nature of the event and link it directly to the resulting medical condition.
The clinical responsibility for this code lies in accurately documenting the circumstances of the accidental injury related to the handgun discharge or malfunction. Clinicians should describe the nature of the incident, the type of handgun involved, and the resulting injuries to the patient or others involved.
- 20
- Accidents (V00-X58), Other external causes of accidental injury (W00-X58), Exposure to inanimate mechanical forces (W20-W49)
In simple words: This code describes an accidental injury caused by a handgun unexpectedly firing or malfunctioning.It includes problems with pistols and revolvers, but not BB guns, pellet guns, airguns, or shotguns. It also does not include intentional acts like assault or self-harm.
Accidental handgun discharge and malfunction. Includes: accidental discharge and malfunction of gun for single hand use, accidental discharge and malfunction of pistol, accidental discharge and malfunction of revolver, Handgun discharge and malfunction NOS. Excludes1: accidental airgun discharge and malfunction (W34.010, W34.110), accidental BB gun discharge and malfunction (W34.010, W34.110), accidental pellet gun discharge and malfunction (W34.010, W34.110), accidental shotgun discharge and malfunction (W33.01, W33.11), assault by handgun discharge (X93), handgun discharge involving legal intervention (Y35.0-), handgun discharge involving military or war operations (Y36.4-), intentional self-harm by handgun discharge (X72), Very pistol discharge and malfunction (W34.09, W34.19)
Example 1: A patient presents to the emergency room with a gunshot wound to the foot. The patient reports that he was cleaning his handgun when it accidentally discharged.The physician documents the injury and the circumstances, which leads to the assignment of code W32., A patient is brought to the hospital by paramedics after a handgun malfunctioned during target practice. The malfunction resulted in shrapnel injuries to the patient's hand. The physician documents the malfunction and the resulting injury, which supports the use of code W32., A child arrives at the urgent care clinic with a minor injury to their finger.The parents report that the child was playing with a handgun they found in the house and accidentally discharged the weapon. After attending to the injury, the physician queries the parents about safe gun storage practices and assigns code W32 for the accident.
Documentation should clearly state that the handgun discharge or malfunction was accidental. It should also describe the specific type of handgun involved (e.g., pistol, revolver) and detail the resulting injuries.If the incident involved others, their involvement and injuries should also be documented.
** It is important to note that this code describes the circumstance causing an injury, not the nature of the injury itself.A corresponding code from Chapter 19 should be used to describe the specific injury.
- Specialties:Emergency Medicine, Trauma Surgery, Pediatrics, Family Medicine
- Place of Service:Emergency Room - Hospital, Inpatient Hospital, Office, Home, Urgent Care Facility