Radial collateral ligament sprain of left elbow, sequela

This code signifies a chronic or late-effect injury to the radial collateral ligament (RCL) of the left elbow, resulting from a previous sprain. It indicates that the patient is experiencing ongoing symptoms or complications directly attributable to the initial ligamentous injury, rather than an acute event. These sequelae might include persistent pain, instability, reduced range of motion, or functional limitations.

Apply this code when documenting a patient presenting with long-term issues stemming from a prior sprain of the left elbow's radial collateral ligament. This is appropriate for follow-up visits where the primary focus is managing the residual effects of the original injury, such as chronic pain management, rehabilitation for persistent instability, or evaluation of ongoing functional deficits.

• This "S" seventh character indicates a sequela, meaning the initial injury has healed but is causing ongoing problems.
• Ensure documentation clearly links the current symptoms or condition to a previously diagnosed radial collateral ligament sprain of the left elbow.
• Do not use this code for acute or initial encounters of a radial collateral ligament sprain; those require different seventh characters.