Injury of radial nerve at upper arm level, unsp arm, init

This code signifies damage to the radial nerve occurring specifically within the upper arm region, without specifying which arm is affected. The injury can result in motor and/or sensory deficits in the forearm and hand, impacting wrist extension, finger extension, and sensation over the dorsal hand.

This code is appropriate for initial encounters where a patient presents with a newly diagnosed or treated injury to the radial nerve in the upper arm. This could include cases of trauma such as fractures of the humerus, direct blows, or compression injuries affecting the nerve in this specific anatomical area.

• Ensure documentation clearly specifies the injury location as the upper arm, not the elbow or forearm.
• If the affected arm (left or right) is known, a more specific code should be selected.
• This "initial encounter" code is used for the entire period a patient is receiving active treatment for the injury.