Acute infarction of spinal cord (embolic) (nonembolic)

This code signifies a sudden and severe interruption of blood flow to the spinal cord, leading to tissue death (infarction). This can be caused by a blockage (embolism) or other non-embolic mechanisms, resulting in acute neurological deficits related to the affected spinal cord segments.

Use this code for patients presenting with rapid-onset myelopathy due to an ischemic event affecting the spinal cord. Documentation should clearly state a diagnosis of acute spinal cord infarction, often supported by imaging findings (e.g., MRI showing restricted diffusion) and clinical signs consistent with spinal cord ischemia.

• Differentiate from spinal cord compression or other non-ischemic myelopathies.
• Ensure documentation specifies "acute" to justify this code; chronic infarction would be coded differently.
• Look for underlying causes (e.g., aortic dissection, vasculitis) which may require additional coding.