Injury of abducent nerve, left side, initial encounter

This code signifies damage to the left abducens nerve (cranial nerve VI), which is responsible for lateral eye movement. Such an injury typically results in diplopia (double vision) and esotropia (inward turning of the eye) due to paralysis of the lateral rectus muscle.

Use this code for the initial encounter of a patient presenting with an acute injury to the left abducens nerve. Documentation should clearly specify the left side and the traumatic etiology of the nerve damage. This code is appropriate for new diagnoses or the initial phase of treatment for such an injury.

• Ensure documentation specifies "left side" to avoid laterality errors; otherwise, an unspecified laterality code may be more appropriate.
• Confirm the encounter is "initial" for this specific injury; subsequent care would require a different seventh character.
• Look for associated trauma codes (e.g., skull fracture) if the abducens nerve injury is secondary to a larger traumatic event.