Injury to abducens nerve

This code represents damage or dysfunction of the abducens nerve (cranial nerve VI), which is responsible for the lateral movement of the eye. Injury to this nerve typically results in an inability to abduct the affected eye, leading to esotropia (inward turning of the eye) and horizontal diplopia (double vision).

Use this code when documentation specifies an injury, lesion, or palsy affecting the abducens nerve. This includes conditions like traumatic abducens nerve palsy, ischemic neuropathy, or compression from a tumor. Supporting documentation should clearly identify the abducens nerve as the affected cranial nerve.

• Differentiate from other cranial nerve palsies; ensure documentation specifically names the abducens nerve.
• Consider an additional E-code if the injury is due to an external cause (e.g., trauma).
• Review for laterality if specified (e.g., right, left, bilateral) as some ICD-9 codes may offer more specificity.