Inj cutan sensory nerve at shldr/up arm, left arm, sequela

This code signifies a lasting effect or complication resulting from a past injury to a cutaneous sensory nerve in the left shoulder or upper arm region. This type of nerve damage affects sensation, not motor function, and the "sequela" indicates that the acute injury has resolved, but residual symptoms or deficits persist.

Use this code when documenting a patient presenting with chronic sensory deficits, such as numbness, tingling, or altered sensation, in the left shoulder or upper arm, and the provider explicitly links these symptoms to a previous injury of a cutaneous sensory nerve in that area. This code is appropriate for follow-up encounters addressing these long-term effects.

• Ensure the medical record clearly documents the left arm as the affected side and specifies a cutaneous sensory nerve injury.
• Verify that the documentation supports the "sequela" designation, indicating a chronic or residual condition rather than an acute injury.
• Always assign an external cause code (e.g., V00-Y99) to describe the circumstances of the original injury, if known and applicable.