2025 ICD-10-CM code W34.0
(Active) Effective Date: N/A External causes of morbidity - Exposure to inanimate mechanical forces (W20-W49) 20 Feed
Accidental discharge from other and unspecified firearms and guns.
The medical necessity for using this code is to provide additional information about the circumstances of the injury. This data can be used for injury research and prevention efforts.The code itself does not impact reimbursement directly, but it does provide valuable data for tracking injury trends.
Clinicians should use this code as a secondary code to describe the cause of the injury. The primary code should describe the injury itself (e.g., a fracture, laceration, or internal injury).It is essential to document the circumstances of the accidental discharge, including the type of firearm involved, the location of the injury, and any other relevant details.
In simple words: This code is used for an injury caused by the accidental firing of a gun that is not a handgun, shotgun, or other specific type of gun.
Accidental discharge from other and unspecified firearms and guns. This code describes an accidental injury resulting from the discharge of a firearm other than a handgun, shotgun, or other specified firearm.
Example 1: A patient presents to the emergency department with a gunshot wound to the foot. The patient states that he was cleaning his rifle when it accidentally discharged. The primary diagnosis would be the specific injury to the foot (e.g., open fracture of the foot), and W34.0 would be used as a secondary diagnosis to indicate the cause of the injury. , A child is brought to the clinic with a minor injury to their hand after an air rifle accidentally discharged. The appropriate injury code for the hand would be the primary diagnosis, with W34.0 as a secondary diagnosis to indicate the cause of the injury., An individual is treated for hearing loss after a blank round was accidentally discharged from a starter pistol near their ear. The primary diagnosis code would be for the hearing loss, and W34.0 would be the secondary code.
Documentation should clearly state that the discharge was accidental and describe the type of firearm involved (if known). The details of the incident should be documented, along with the resulting injuries.
** It is important to distinguish between accidental discharge and intentional injury (assault). If the discharge was intentional, an assault code (X92-Y09) should be used instead.The use of external cause codes like W34.0 is encouraged but not mandatory unless required by state regulations or specific payers.
- Specialties:Emergency Medicine, Trauma Surgery, Primary Care, Pediatrics
- Place of Service:Emergency Room - Hospital, Office, Inpatient Hospital,Home, Other Place of Service