Sprain of lateral collateral ligament of left knee, sequela

This code signifies a chronic or late effect resulting from a previous sprain of the lateral collateral ligament (LCL) in the left knee. This could include persistent pain, instability, stiffness, or functional limitations that are a direct consequence of the initial injury, even after the acute phase has passed.

Apply this code when a patient presents with ongoing symptoms or complications related to a past LCL sprain of the left knee. This is appropriate for follow-up visits addressing long-term issues, rehabilitation for chronic instability, or evaluation of residual pain attributable to the old injury.

• Always link this sequela code to an external cause code (e.g., W00-Y38) if the original injury's cause is known and relevant.
• Do not use this code for acute LCL sprains; instead, use the appropriate acute sprain code (e.g., S83.422A-D).
• Ensure documentation clearly supports the "sequela" nature of the condition, indicating it's a residual effect rather than an acute injury.