Postsurgical lordosis

This code represents an abnormal inward curvature of the lumbar spine that develops as a complication following a surgical procedure. It signifies an exaggerated lumbar lordosis that was not present or was less severe pre-operatively, and is directly attributable to the surgical intervention.

Use this code when documentation clearly indicates a patient has developed or experienced worsening lordosis of the lumbar spine subsequent to a spinal or related surgical procedure. This diagnosis should be supported by imaging studies (e.g., X-rays, MRI) demonstrating the increased curvature and a physician's assessment linking it to the prior surgery.

• Ensure the documentation explicitly links the lordosis to a previous surgery; otherwise, a general lordosis code (e.g., M40.5-) may be more appropriate.
• Always sequence this code after the primary diagnosis or condition for which the surgery was performed, if still relevant.
• Look for specific details regarding the type of surgery performed that may have contributed to the lordosis, as this can provide further context.