Late effect of spinal cord injury

This code signifies a health problem that is a residual condition or complication arising from a spinal cord injury (SCI) that occurred in the past. It is used when the acute phase of the SCI has passed, and the patient is now experiencing long-term sequelae directly attributable to that injury. These late effects can manifest in various body systems.

Use this code when documenting a current condition that is a direct, long-term consequence of a prior spinal cord injury. This applies to conditions such as chronic pain, spasticity, neurogenic bladder/bowel, or paralysis that persist after the initial SCI has healed. Documentation should clearly link the current condition to the historical spinal cord injury.

• Always sequence this code after the code identifying the specific late effect (e.g., neurogenic bladder, chronic pain).
• Do not use this code for acute spinal cord injuries; it is exclusively for residual conditions.
• Ensure documentation explicitly states the condition is a "late effect" or "sequela" of a past spinal cord injury.