Injury of facial nerve, left side, subsequent encounter

This code signifies a traumatic injury to the facial nerve on the left side of the face, occurring during a subsequent phase of care. This typically involves damage to the seventh cranial nerve, which controls facial expressions, taste sensation, and tear/salivary gland function. The injury could result in facial paralysis, weakness, or sensory disturbances.

Apply this code when a patient presents for follow-up care, rehabilitation, or management of complications related to a previously sustained left-sided facial nerve injury. Documentation should clearly indicate the left side of the face and specify that this is not the initial encounter for the injury. Examples include physical therapy for facial nerve palsy or evaluation of persistent synkinesis.

• Ensure documentation explicitly states "left side" and "subsequent encounter" to support code assignment.
• Differentiate from initial encounters (A) or sequela (S) codes for facial nerve injuries.
• Always code the underlying cause of the facial nerve injury (e.g., fracture, laceration) as a primary diagnosis if still relevant to the current encounter.