Athetoid cerebral palsy

This code represents a type of cerebral palsy characterized by involuntary, uncontrolled, slow, writhing movements, often affecting the hands, feet, arms, or legs, and sometimes the face and tongue. These movements can fluctuate in intensity and are typically exacerbated by stress or voluntary effort. It results from damage to the basal ganglia, often due to perinatal brain injury.

Use this code when documentation explicitly states a diagnosis of athetoid cerebral palsy, also known as dyskinetic cerebral palsy. This diagnosis is typically made by a neurologist or developmental pediatrician based on clinical presentation and neurological examination findings. Supporting documentation should describe the characteristic involuntary movements.

• Differentiate from other forms of cerebral palsy (e.g., spastic, ataxic) based on the predominant movement disorder described.
• Do not code based solely on the term "dyskinetic" without further specification; ensure "athetoid" or a clear description of athetoid movements is present.
• Always sequence this code as a primary diagnosis when it is the reason for the encounter, or as a secondary diagnosis when it is a co-morbidity impacting care.