Injury of nerve root of lumbar spine, sequela

This code signifies a long-term or residual effect resulting from a past injury to a nerve root in the lumbar spine. These sequelae can manifest as chronic pain, weakness, numbness, or other neurological deficits that persist after the initial injury has healed. It indicates that the current condition is a direct consequence of a previous lumbar nerve root trauma.

Use this code when documenting a patient presenting with persistent neurological symptoms (e.g., radiculopathy, paresthesia, motor weakness) in the lower extremities that are directly attributable to a prior injury of a lumbar nerve root. This applies when the acute phase of the original injury has passed, and the current encounter addresses the lasting effects.

• Always assign an additional code to specify the nature of the sequela (e.g., chronic pain, muscle weakness).
• Ensure documentation clearly links the current condition to a past lumbar nerve root injury, not an acute one.
• The "S" in the 7th character indicates sequela and is crucial for proper code assignment.