Minor laceration of unspecified vertebral artery, sequela

This code signifies a long-term effect or complication arising from a minor laceration of an unspecified vertebral artery. This could include persistent neurological deficits, chronic pain, or other ongoing issues directly attributable to the original injury, even after the acute phase has passed.

Apply this code when documenting the sequelae of a previously sustained minor vertebral artery laceration, where the specific artery (left or right) was not identified. This is appropriate for follow-up encounters addressing chronic conditions resulting from the initial trauma. Documentation should clearly link the current condition to the past vertebral artery injury.

• Ensure documentation explicitly states "sequela" or indicates a chronic condition resulting from a past injury.
• Do not use for acute injuries; refer to the acute injury codes (S15.11-).
• Always sequence the sequela code first, followed by codes for the specific manifestations of the sequela.