What is the ICD-10 code for radial nerve palsy?

The ICD-10 code for radial nerve palsy varies by location: S54.2 for forearm injuries, S64.22 for wrist/hand injuries, and G56.3 for chronic lesions.

How do you document radial nerve palsy?

Document radial nerve palsy by specifying the injury location, laterality, and confirming with EMG/NCS results.

ICD-10 Coding for Radial Nerve Palsy(S54.2, G56.3, M62.81)

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Comprehensive guide on ICD-10 coding for radial nerve palsy, including documentation requirements and common pitfalls.

Also known as:

Wrist DropSaturday Night Palsy

Related ICD-10 Code Ranges

Complete code families applicable to Radial Nerve Palsy

S00-T88Primary Range

Injury, poisoning and certain other consequences of external causes

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Code Comparison: When to Use Each Code

Compare key differences between these codes to ensure accurate selection

Code	Description	When to Use	Key Documentation
S54.2	Injury of radial nerve at forearm level	For acute traumatic injuries to the radial nerve at the forearm level.	EMG/NCS showing radial nerve dysfunction Physical exam with wrist drop
S64.22	Injury of radial nerve at wrist and hand level	For traumatic injuries to the radial nerve at the wrist or hand level.	EMG/NCS showing radial nerve dysfunction Physical exam with sensory deficits in hand
G56.3	Lesion of radial nerve	For chronic or non-traumatic lesions of the radial nerve.	EMG/NCS showing chronic radial nerve dysfunction Physical exam with Tinel’s sign

Primary ICD-10-CM Codes

Injury of radial nerve at forearm level

S54.2

Differential Codes

Alternative codes to consider when ruling out similar conditions

Lesion of radial nerveG56.3

Injury of radial nerve at forearm levelS54.2

Documentation & Coding Risks

Avoid these common issues when documenting Radial Nerve Palsy.

Omitting laterality

Impact

Clinical: Ambiguity in treatment planning., Regulatory: Potential for audit issues., Financial: Delayed reimbursement due to coding errors.

Mitigation

Use templates that prompt for laterality.

Using G56.3 for acute trauma

Impact

Reimbursement: Incorrect reimbursement for acute injuries., Compliance: Non-compliance with ICD-10 guidelines., Data Quality: Inaccurate clinical data representation.

Mitigation

Use S54.2 or S64.22 with appropriate 7th character.

7th Character Usage

Impact

Incorrect use of 7th character for encounter type.

Mitigation

Educate staff on encounter type documentation.

Frequently Asked Questions

Primary Code

S54.2

Injury of radial nerve at forearm level

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