Traumatic enucleation of the eye is coded as what type of external injury?

Traumatic enucleation of the eye is classified as an avulsion injury. Avulsion refers to a type of injury where a body structure is forcibly detached or removed. In the case of enucleation, the eye is completely removed from its socket, which aligns with the definition of an avulsion where there is a detachment of tissue or a body part due to trauma.

Understanding the nature of enucleation helps clarify why it fits this category. The traumatic aspect emphasizes that there was significant force or injury involved, resulting in the loss of the eye. This is markedly different from other types of injuries such as contusions, which are bruises caused by impact, punctures from sharp objects creating holes, or incisions, which refer to cuts made with a sharp instrument. Each of these terms describes different mechanisms of injury, but avulsion specifically captures the essence of what occurs during traumatic enucleation.