S20: Superficial injury of thorax
S20.3: Other superficial injuries of front wall of thorax
The condition described by the ICD-10 code S20.3 refers to an array of superficial injuries to the front wall of the thorax. "Superficial" indicates the injury only affects the skin and underlying subcutaneous tissue while "thorax" is medical speak for the chest area. Essentially, these injuries could be anything from minor abrasions or scratches to bruises, contusions, or superficial burns that occur on the front chest wall. They're usually the result of some type of external force like a fall, a blunt object or in some cases, intentional harm like a scratch or a bite. The main symptoms can vary, but often involve localized pain, redness, swelling, or changes to skin surface, and in case of burns, potential blistering. These injuries typically do not involve deeper structures of the chest like the lungs or the heart.
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