NIHSS score 24

This code indicates a National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) score of 24, reflecting a severe neurological deficit following an acute stroke. The NIHSS is a systematic assessment tool used to quantify the severity of stroke-related neurological impairment, with higher scores indicating greater severity. A score of 24 suggests significant functional impairment across multiple neurological domains.

This code is used when a patient has been assessed with an NIHSS score of 24, typically in the acute phase of an ischemic or hemorrhagic stroke. Documentation must clearly state the NIHSS score as 24, usually found in neurology notes, emergency department records, or inpatient progress notes. It is often used in conjunction with a primary stroke diagnosis.

• Always ensure the documentation explicitly states "NIHSS score 24" to support this specific code.
• This code is for reporting the NIHSS score itself, not the stroke diagnosis; always code the underlying stroke first.
• Do not confuse this with other NIHSS score codes; each specific score has its own unique code.