Other specified injury of left vertebral artery, init encntr

This code signifies a traumatic injury to the left vertebral artery that is not otherwise specified as a laceration, puncture, or dissection. It encompasses various forms of damage such as contusion, crush injury, or partial tear to this critical blood vessel supplying the brain. The "initial encounter" indicates the patient is receiving active treatment for the injury.

Use this code for patients presenting with an acute, non-specific injury to the left vertebral artery due to trauma. Documentation should clearly state the left side and describe the injury as something other than a complete tear, puncture, or dissection. This code is appropriate when the patient is first seen for this specific injury.

• Ensure documentation specifies "left" vertebral artery; otherwise, an unspecified laterality code may be more appropriate.
• Distinguish from more specific injuries like laceration (S15.112A) or dissection (S15.132A) if the documentation supports those.
• Always confirm the "initial encounter" status; subsequent care would use a different seventh character.