NIHSS score 3

This code indicates a National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) score of 3, reflecting a mild neurological deficit typically observed in patients following an acute ischemic stroke. The NIHSS is a standardized, systematic assessment tool used to quantify the severity of stroke-related neurological impairment.

Use this code when the medical record explicitly documents an NIHSS score of 3 for a patient, usually in the context of an acute cerebrovascular event. This score is often recorded during initial assessment, hospital admission, or at specific time points during stroke management.

• Always ensure the NIHSS score is clearly documented by a physician or other qualified healthcare professional.
• This code should be sequenced after the primary diagnosis for the stroke (e.g., I63.x).
• Do not confuse this with other NIHSS score codes; each specific score has its own unique code.