2025 ICD-10-CM code W40.8
(Active) Effective Date: N/A External causes of morbidity - Exposure to inanimate mechanical forces 20 Feed
Explosion of other specified explosive materials.
Use 7th character to indicate initial encounter (A), subsequent encounter (D), or sequela (S).
The medical necessity of using this code is determined by the circumstances of the explosion. The code supports medical decision-making for appropriate treatment and care coordination for injuries sustained.
Clinicians should document the specific type of explosive material involved, if known, and the details of the injuries sustained. They should also consider any associated complications, such as burns, fractures, or internal injuries.
- 20
- Accidents (V00-X58)Other external causes of accidental injury (W00-X58)Exposure to inanimate mechanical forces (W20-W49)
In simple words: Injuries caused by an explosion from materials other than those used in blasting, legal intervention, or military operations, such as in a factory or grain silo.
Explosion of other specified explosive materials. This includes explosions in dumps, factories, grain stores, and munitions, but excludes explosions involving legal intervention or military/war operations.
Example 1: A patient presents to the ER with injuries due to an explosion at a chemical factory involving unspecified chemicals. The code W40.8 would be used to describe this external cause of injury., A firefighter sustains burns and smoke inhalation while responding to a fire that resulted in a grain store explosion. W40.8 would be used as a secondary code to the codes for the burns and smoke inhalation., A worker at a munitions dump is injured when stored explosive materials detonate unexpectedly. The code W40.8 accurately captures the cause of the injury.
Documentation should clearly describe the circumstances of the explosion, including the type of explosive material (if known), the location of the incident, and the resulting injuries.
- Specialties:Emergency Medicine, Trauma Surgery, Primary Care
- Place of Service:Emergency Room - Hospital, Inpatient Hospital, Office