Injury of ulnar nerve at upper arm level, left arm, subs

This code signifies a documented injury to the ulnar nerve in the left upper arm, occurring during a follow-up visit for the initial trauma. This could involve contusion, laceration, or other damage to the nerve's structure or function at this specific anatomical location. The injury affects the nerve responsible for sensation to the little finger and half of the ring finger, as well as motor function to many intrinsic hand muscles.

Apply this code for subsequent encounters where a patient is receiving ongoing care for a previously diagnosed ulnar nerve injury in the left upper arm. This includes follow-up appointments for wound care, nerve repair monitoring, physical therapy, or assessment of nerve recovery. It indicates that the patient is beyond the initial acute phase of treatment.

• Ensure documentation clearly specifies the left arm and the upper arm level of the ulnar nerve injury.
• Confirm the encounter is for follow-up care, not the initial treatment, to justify the "D" (subsequent encounter) seventh character.
• Always code with an external cause code (V, W, X, Y category) to describe the circumstances of the injury, if known.