Injury of other cranial nerves, unspecified side, sequela

This code signifies a long-term or late effect resulting from an injury to any cranial nerve other than the optic, oculomotor, trochlear, trigeminal, abducens, facial, acoustic, or accessory nerves. It indicates that the specific side of the body affected by the injury is not documented. This code is used when the acute phase of the original injury has passed, and the patient is experiencing residual symptoms or complications.

Use this code when documenting a sequela (e.g., persistent neurological deficit, chronic pain, or functional impairment) directly attributable to a past injury of an unspecified "other" cranial nerve. This code is appropriate when the medical record clearly states that the condition is a late effect and does not specify the affected side. Documentation should explicitly link the current condition to a previous cranial nerve injury.

• Always sequence the sequela code (S04.899S) first, followed by a code describing the specific residual condition or symptom.
• Ensure documentation explicitly states "sequela," "late effect," or similar terminology to support the use of the 7th character 'S'.
• Avoid using this code if the specific cranial nerve (e.g., olfactory, glossopharyngeal, vagus, hypoglossal) or the affected side is known; instead, use a more specific S04.x code.