Hemiplegia, unspecified affecting left dominant side

This code indicates paralysis affecting one side of the body, specifically the left side, without further specification of the cause or type of hemiplegia. It signifies a motor deficit impacting the left extremities and trunk. The "dominant side" designation implies the patient's primary hand for tasks is on the left.

Use this code when documentation clearly states "hemiplegia" or "hemiparesis" affecting the left side, and the patient is left-hand dominant, but no further details regarding the etiology (e.g., post-stroke, congenital) are provided. This code is appropriate when the laterality and dominance are known, but the specific type of hemiplegia is not documented.

• Always strive for a more specific code if the cause or type of hemiplegia is documented (e.g., spastic, flaccid, post-CVA).
• Ensure documentation explicitly states "left dominant" to support the use of this code; otherwise, an unspecified dominance code may be more appropriate.
• This code is typically a sequela code and should be sequenced after the acute event (e.g., stroke) if the patient is still in the acute phase of care.