Sprain of unspecified ligament of left ankle, sequela

This code indicates a long-term or late effect resulting from a sprain of an unknown ligament in the left ankle. It signifies that the initial injury has resolved, but the patient continues to experience residual symptoms or complications directly attributable to that past sprain.

Use this code when documenting a patient presenting with chronic pain, instability, stiffness, or other persistent issues in the left ankle that are a direct consequence of a previously sustained, unspecified ligament sprain. This applies when the acute phase of the original injury has passed, and the current encounter addresses these lingering effects.

• Always link this sequela code to an external cause code (V00-Y99) if the original injury's cause is known and relevant to the current encounter.
• Ensure documentation clearly states the current condition is a "sequela," "late effect," or "due to old injury" of a left ankle sprain.
• Avoid using this code for acute or subacute sprains; those require codes from the initial or subsequent encounter categories.