Contus/lac cereb, w LOC of 1-5 hrs 59 min, sequela

This code describes a sequela (late effect) of a brain injury involving bruising and/or tearing of the cerebrum, which was associated with a moderate period of unconsciousness (between 1 and 5 hours 59 minutes) at the time of the initial injury. This diagnosis is used when the patient is presenting for care related to the long-term effects or complications of that past cerebral injury.

Apply this code when a patient is seen for ongoing symptoms or conditions directly resulting from a previous cerebral contusion and laceration, where the original injury involved a loss of consciousness lasting between 1 and 5 hours 59 minutes. Documentation must clearly state the sequela and link it to the past traumatic brain injury with the specified duration of unconsciousness.

• This "S" code indicates a sequela and should always be a secondary diagnosis, following the code for the specific sequela (e.g., chronic headache, cognitive deficits).
• Ensure the medical record explicitly documents the duration of loss of consciousness from the original injury to justify the "333" specificity.
• Distinguish from acute injury codes (without the "S" suffix) which are used for the initial encounter or active treatment of the injury itself.