Injury of trigeminal nerve, left side, sequela

This code signifies a long-term or late-effect complication resulting from a past injury to the left trigeminal nerve. Such sequelae can include persistent neuropathic pain, sensory deficits, or motor dysfunction (e.g., mastication issues) on the left side of the face, occurring after the acute phase of the original injury has resolved.

Apply this code when documentation clearly indicates a current condition or symptom directly attributable to a previous injury of the left trigeminal nerve. This is appropriate for chronic pain, numbness, or weakness that persists months or years after the initial trauma, infection, or surgical insult to the nerve. The patient's medical record should specify the left side and the causal link to a prior injury.

• Always use this code as a secondary diagnosis, following the code for the specific sequela (e.g., G50.0 for trigeminal neuralgia).
• Ensure documentation explicitly states "left side" and a clear connection to a past injury, not an acute or current injury.
• Do not use for acute trigeminal nerve injuries; those would be coded with the acute injury codes from the S04.3- series without the "S" seventh character.