Dislocation of C6/C7 cervical vertebrae, sequela

This code signifies a long-term complication or late effect resulting from a prior dislocation of the cervical vertebrae between C6 and C7. It indicates that the patient is experiencing ongoing issues directly attributable to that past injury, rather than an acute dislocation.

Apply this code when documentation clearly states a patient's current symptoms or conditions are a direct consequence of a previously treated C6/C7 cervical dislocation. This is appropriate for chronic pain, instability, neurological deficits, or other persistent sequelae. Documentation should explicitly link the current presentation to the historical dislocation.

• Always use a seventh character 'S' for sequela codes, indicating a late effect.
• Do not use this code for acute or current dislocations; those require codes from S13.171A-S13.171P.
• Ensure the medical record clearly distinguishes between an acute injury and a sequela, and that the sequela is directly related to the C6/C7 dislocation.