Injury of nerves at shldr/up arm, right arm, init

This code signifies damage to any nerve in the right shoulder or upper arm region, excluding the major nerves like the brachial plexus, median, ulnar, or radial nerves. This injury could involve smaller, less commonly affected nerves within this anatomical area. The "initial encounter" designation indicates this is the first time the patient is receiving active treatment for this specific injury.

Apply this code when documentation specifies an injury to a nerve in the right shoulder or upper arm that is not otherwise classified to a more specific nerve code. This would include trauma to nerves such as the axillary nerve, musculocutaneous nerve, or other unnamed peripheral nerves in the specified region. It is appropriate for the initial visit where diagnosis and treatment planning for the acute injury are occurring.

• Ensure the laterality is explicitly documented as "right" for the shoulder or upper arm.
• Verify that the documentation specifies "initial encounter" for the current treatment episode.
• Confirm that the injured nerve is not one of the more commonly coded major nerves (e.g., median, ulnar, radial, brachial plexus) to avoid miscoding.