Dislocation of C5/C6 cervical vertebrae, sequela

This code signifies a long-term complication or residual effect resulting from a previous dislocation of the C5/C6 cervical vertebrae. It indicates that the initial injury has healed, but the patient continues to experience symptoms or functional impairment directly attributable to that past dislocation.

Use this code when documenting a patient presenting with ongoing issues, such as chronic pain, neurological deficits, or instability, that are a direct consequence of a prior C5/C6 dislocation. Documentation should clearly link the current condition to the historical injury, often through a history of present illness or past medical history.

• Always use this code as a secondary diagnosis, following the code for the specific sequela (e.g., chronic pain, myelopathy).
• Ensure the "S" seventh character is appended for sequela, indicating a late effect.
• Distinguish from acute dislocations (S13.161A-D) or subsequent encounters for routine healing (S13.161G-P).