Injury of abducent nerve, left side, sequela

This code signifies a long-term neurological deficit resulting from a past injury to the abducens nerve (cranial nerve VI) on the left side. This injury typically impairs the lateral rectus muscle, leading to an inability to abduct the left eye, often manifesting as esotropia (inward turning of the eye) and diplopia (double vision).

Apply this code when documenting a chronic or residual effect of a previous abducens nerve injury affecting the left eye. This is appropriate when the initial acute injury has resolved, but the patient continues to experience sequelae such as persistent strabismus, limited extraocular movement, or chronic diplopia. Documentation should clearly state "sequela" or "residual effect" of a prior abducens nerve injury.

• Requires a seventh character "S" for sequela, indicating the long-term effects of the injury.
• Do not use for acute injuries; refer to codes without the "S" seventh character for initial encounters.
• Consider co-reporting with codes for associated symptoms like diplopia (H53.2) or strabismus (H50.0-).