Cow bites and spacecraft injuries enliven new medical diagnostic codes

man with books

A DISASTER WAITING TO HAPPEN  Injuries at the library now have their very own diagnostic code in the latest revision of International Classification of Diseases used by physicians around the globe. 

Aaron Amat/Shutterstock

The latest diagnostic coding system for physicians, the International Classification of Diseases – 10th revision, took effect in October. With it came some curious new codes compiled in Medical Economics magazine. Here is a selection of some hard-to-explain mishaps. 

V91.35: Hit or struck by falling object due to accident to canoe or kayak

 

V96.00: Unspecified [hot air] balloon accident injuring occupant

 

Y92.241: Hurt at the library

 

V95.40: Unspecified spacecraft accident injuring occupant

 

V97.33: Sucked into jet engine

 

W55.21: Bitten by a cow

 

W56.22XA: Struck by orca, initial encounter

 

V91.07: Burn due to water skis on fire

Credit: All animations by James Provost

Bruce Bower has written about the behavioral sciences for Science News since 1984. He writes about psychology, anthropology, archaeology and mental health issues.

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