Hypoplasia and dysplasia of spinal cord

This code describes congenital underdevelopment or abnormal development of the spinal cord itself. It encompasses conditions where the spinal cord tissue is either incompletely formed (hypoplasia) or structurally malformed (dysplasia). These anomalies can affect the function of the nervous system depending on their severity and location.

Use this code when documentation specifies a congenital hypoplasia or dysplasia of the spinal cord. This typically applies to infants or children diagnosed with these specific developmental defects. Supporting documentation would include imaging reports (e.g., MRI of the spine) and neurological evaluations confirming the diagnosis.

• Differentiate from spina bifida (Q05.-) where there is a defect in the vertebral column, though spinal cord anomalies can co-occur.
• Ensure the documentation explicitly states "hypoplasia" or "dysplasia" of the spinal cord, not just a general spinal cord anomaly.
• Code any associated neurological deficits or malformations separately, if documented and not inherent to the spinal cord anomaly itself.