In ICD-10-CM, we have the ability to assign very specific external cause codes. As noted in Chapter 20, they allow us to classify environmental events and circumstances as the cause of injury, and other adverse effects. It also instructs that when a code from this section is applicable, it is intended to be assigned secondary to a code from another chapter that indicates the nature of the condition.
With Thanksgiving now behind us, let’s take a look at some of these codes.
One of the main activities we may participate in around Thanksgiving is cooking. Burns are common cooking injuries any time of year. Category X10 includes codes for Contact with hot drinks, food, fats, and cooking oils. There are separate codes for each:
These each have seventh-character options, A, D, and S, to identify the episode of care. Contact with hot drinks and food could also be assigned for burn injuries from eating or drinking. Be sure to check the temperature on that gravy before enjoying!
If a burn occurs while cooking using kitchen appliances, we would look to Category X15, Contact with hot household appliances. Our specific codes here include contact with hot stove, hot toaster, hotplate, hot saucepan or skillet, and other hot household appliances. On Thanksgiving Day, we may be using all of these. There is an Excludes 1 note here that includes W29, Contact with powered household appliances. You may not think you are using hand tools as part of your Thanksgiving preparation, but a closer look at code W29.0, Contact with powered kitchen appliance, shows it includes blender, can opener, garbage disposal, and mixer…all Thanksgiving essentials. Code W29.1 is for Contact with electric knife. If you are like me, you are digging through your cabinets to find that very important item. If you can’t find that electric knife, no worry, W26.0, Contact with knife, will be assigned for those non-powered cutting utensils. There is an Excludes 1 note here for W29.1, Contact with electric knife.
Everyone has their favorite way to enjoy their turkey. Maybe it is roasted or smoked, or maybe grilled or even deep-fried. Our Thanksgiving contact with turkey generally involves eating it. However, if you were to have an injury due to contact with a live turkey, we have a code for that, too. W61.4 is where we would look for contact with turkey. We can identify being struck by a turkey, pecked by a turkey, and everything else would fall into other contact with a turkey. These W61.4 codes would include seventh characters A, D, or S to identify the episode of care for that turkey-related injury.
Here’s hoping you and yours had a very blessed and Happy Thanksgiving!
EDITOR’S NOTE: This piece on RADV audits, written by Frank Cohen, was published on RACmonitor on Aug. 25, 2025. It’s being republished on ICD10monitor because
Today is Veterans Day, so first I would like to thank those who have served or are currently serving in the military for their service
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