Injury of abducent nerve, left side, subsequent encounter

This code signifies a documented injury to the left abducens nerve (cranial nerve VI) that is being treated during a subsequent encounter. This nerve is responsible for the lateral movement of the left eye. An injury can result in diplopia (double vision) or strabismus (eye misalignment).

Apply this code when a patient presents for follow-up care, rehabilitation, or management of complications related to a previously diagnosed injury of the left abducens nerve. Documentation should clearly indicate the left side, the nature of the injury, and that this is not the initial treatment encounter.

• Ensure documentation specifies "left side" and "subsequent encounter" to support accurate code assignment.
• Distinguish from initial encounters (A) and sequela (S) codes for abducens nerve injuries.
• Always review the medical record for the specific cause of the injury to potentially assign an external cause code.