G04.82
BillableAcute flaccid myelitis
HCC Category Mapping
V28HCC 182 — Spinal Cord Disorders/Injuries
0.282V24HCC 72 — Spinal Cord Disorders/Injuries
0.464ESRDHCC 72 — Spinal Cord Disorders/Injuries
0.000RxHCCHCC 155 — Myelitis and Encephalomyelitis
0.000What This Code Means
A sudden onset condition causing weakness and paralysis in the spinal cord, often affecting the arms and legs with a flaccid (floppy) quality.
Coding Tips
- •This code is used for acute presentations; ensure documentation clearly indicates acute onset and flaccid paralysis pattern
- •Look for associated viral infections or recent vaccinations in the medical record, as these are common triggers
Clinical Significance
Acute flaccid myelitis is a serious neurological emergency characterized by sudden-onset limb weakness with flaccid paralysis, often affecting children. It is a reportable condition to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and typically follows viral illness, requiring intensive acute care and long-term rehabilitation services.
Documentation Requirements
- ✓Acute onset of flaccid limb weakness documented with timeline
- ✓MRI findings showing spinal cord lesions (gray matter involvement)
- ✓Cerebrospinal fluid analysis results
- ✓Recent viral illness or vaccination history
- ✓Neurological examination documenting flaccid (not spastic) weakness pattern
- ✓Electromyography or nerve conduction study results if performed
Excludes 1 — Do NOT code together
- transverse myelitis (G37.3)
Commonly Confused Codes
G04.89 — Other myelitis: used for non-flaccid myelitis presentations or when flaccid pattern is not documentedG61.0 — Guillain-Barre syndrome: presents with ascending flaccid paralysis but involves peripheral nerves, not spinal cord gray matterG04.91 — Myelitis, unspecified: should not be used when acute flaccid myelitis is clearly documentedA80.39 — Acute paralytic poliomyelitis: similar presentation but caused by poliovirus