Injury of ulnar nerve at wrs/hnd lv of unsp arm, sequela

This code signifies a long-term complication or residual effect stemming from a past injury to the ulnar nerve at the wrist or hand level. This could include persistent weakness, numbness, or pain in the distribution of the ulnar nerve, affecting the little finger and part of the ring finger, as well as intrinsic hand muscles.

Use this code when documenting a patient presenting with ongoing symptoms directly attributable to a previous ulnar nerve injury at the wrist or hand, after the initial acute phase of healing has passed. This applies when the original injury is no longer being treated, but its lasting effects are.

• Ensure documentation clearly states the current condition is a sequela of a past injury, not an acute event.
• Always assign an additional code for the specific nature of the sequela (e.g., muscle weakness, paresthesia).
• Verify the laterality (left, right, or unspecified) of the affected arm is accurately reflected in the full code.