Coma scale, best motor response, localizes pain, EMR

This diagnosis code indicates a specific level of neurological responsiveness in a patient upon arrival at the emergency department. It signifies that when a painful stimulus is applied, the patient is able to move the affected limb to attempt to remove or push away the source of the pain, demonstrating a purposeful motor response. This finding is a component of the Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) assessment.

Use this code when documentation clearly states that a patient's best motor response on the Glasgow Coma Scale was "localizes pain" upon their initial presentation to the emergency department. This is typically observed in patients presenting with altered mental status, head injury, stroke, or other conditions affecting neurological function. The GCS score should be explicitly documented by the ED physician or nursing staff.

• Ensure the documentation specifies "at arrival to emergency department" to accurately use this code, as GCS scores can change over time.
• Do not confuse "localizes pain" with "withdraws from pain" (flexion withdrawal), which indicates a less purposeful motor response.
• This code is typically used as a secondary diagnosis to provide additional clinical detail about the patient's neurological status related to their primary condition.