Complete lesion at C6 level of cervical spinal cord, init

This code signifies a severe, irreversible injury to the cervical spinal cord at the C6 vertebral level, resulting in a complete loss of motor and sensory function below that point. It indicates that the patient has experienced a transection or severe compression of the spinal cord, leading to quadriplegia or tetraplegia.

Apply this code for patients presenting with a newly diagnosed complete spinal cord injury at the C6 level, typically following trauma. Documentation should clearly state "complete lesion" or "complete transection" at C6, along with the initial encounter for treatment.

• Ensure documentation specifies "complete" lesion; partial lesions at C6 use different codes.
• Verify the encounter type is "initial" for this A-suffix code; subsequent care will require different suffixes.
• Always code the underlying cause of the injury (e.g., fracture, dislocation) as a primary diagnosis if applicable.