Injury of cervical sympathetic nerves, sequela

This code signifies a long-term or late effect resulting from a past injury to the sympathetic nerves located in the cervical region of the spine. This injury can lead to a variety of autonomic dysfunctions affecting the head, neck, and upper extremities, such as Horner's syndrome or sudomotor deficits.

Use this code when documenting a condition that is a residual effect or complication of a previous injury to the cervical sympathetic nerves, and the acute phase of the original injury has passed. Documentation should clearly link the current symptoms or condition to a prior cervical sympathetic nerve injury.

• Always sequence this "sequela" code after the code describing the specific residual condition being treated.
• Do not use this code for acute injuries; refer to the appropriate S14.5XXA or S14.5XXD codes for initial or subsequent encounters.
• Ensure the medical record explicitly states the condition is a sequela of a past cervical sympathetic nerve injury.