Minor laceration of left vertebral artery, sequela

This code signifies a long-term complication or late effect resulting from a minor laceration to the left vertebral artery. This could include conditions such as chronic pain, neurological deficits, or vascular insufficiency that persist after the initial injury has healed. The "sequela" indicates that the acute phase of the injury has passed, and the current condition is a residual effect.

Use this code when documenting a patient presenting with a current condition directly attributable to a past minor laceration of the left vertebral artery. Documentation should clearly state the causal link between the previous injury and the current sequela, and indicate that the initial injury is no longer acute. This code is appropriate for follow-up visits addressing these long-term complications.

• Always sequence the sequela code first, followed by a code describing the specific nature of the sequela (e.g., chronic pain, hemiplegia).
• Ensure documentation explicitly states "sequela" or "late effect" and identifies the original injury as a minor laceration of the left vertebral artery.
• Do not use this code for the initial or acute treatment of the vertebral artery laceration; use an acute injury code for that phase.