Injury of accessory nerve, unspecified side, init encntr

This code signifies damage to the eleventh cranial nerve (accessory nerve) resulting from an initial injury. This nerve primarily controls the sternocleidomastoid and trapezius muscles, affecting head rotation, shoulder shrugging, and arm elevation.

Use this code when documentation indicates an acute injury to the accessory nerve, such as from trauma, surgery, or compression, and the specific side (left or right) is not documented. Supporting documentation would include notes detailing the mechanism of injury and neurological findings consistent with accessory nerve dysfunction.

• Only use this code for the initial treatment of the injury; subsequent encounters require different seventh characters.
• Avoid using this code if the documentation specifies the affected side (left or right); instead, use the more specific codes.
• Ensure the documentation clearly links the nerve injury to a specific traumatic event.