Unspecified sprain of left index finger, initial encounter

This diagnosis code indicates a general ligamentous injury to the left index finger, without further specification of the exact ligament or severity. It signifies an acute injury where the patient is receiving initial treatment for the sprain.

This code is appropriate for documenting a sprain of the left index finger when the specific ligament involved (e.g., collateral, volar plate) is not identified or documented by the provider. It is used for the very first encounter for this particular injury.

• Ensure documentation clearly states "left index finger" and "sprain" without further specificity.
• Verify that this is indeed the initial encounter for the injury; subsequent encounters will require a different 7th character.
• If the specific ligament or severity (e.g., partial tear, complete tear) is documented, a more specific code should be selected.