Complete lesion of L1 level of lumbar spinal cord, sequela

This code signifies a complete transection or severe damage to the lumbar spinal cord at the L1 vertebral level, resulting in a total loss of motor and sensory function below that point. The "sequela" designation indicates that this code is used to report the long-term effects or complications of the initial injury, rather than the acute injury itself.

This code is appropriate for documenting chronic conditions arising from a complete L1 spinal cord injury, such as paraplegia, neurogenic bladder, or chronic pain, after the initial injury has healed. It should be used when the patient is presenting for treatment of these lasting effects, not for the initial trauma.

• Always assign a secondary code for the specific sequela (e.g., G82.21 for paraplegia).
• Ensure documentation clearly states "complete lesion" and specifies the L1 level.
• This code is for the sequela of the injury; do not use for the initial acute injury.