G95.11

HCC Category Mapping

What This Code Means

A sudden loss of blood flow to the spinal cord, either from a blood clot (embolic) or other causes (nonembolic), resulting in acute paralysis or loss of function.

Coding Tips

• •Specify whether the infarction is embolic or nonembolic as indicated in the code
• •Document the level of spinal cord involvement and any associated vascular disease

Clinical Significance

Acute infarction of the spinal cord is a vascular emergency resulting from sudden interruption of blood supply to the spinal cord, leading to rapid-onset neurological deficits including paralysis, sensory loss, and autonomic dysfunction. This is the spinal cord equivalent of a stroke and carries significant morbidity with potential for permanent disability. The acute nature and severity make it a high-resource diagnosis requiring urgent intervention and long-term rehabilitation.

Documentation Requirements

• ✓Acute onset of neurological deficits with documentation of timing and progression
• ✓MRI of the spine demonstrating signal changes consistent with spinal cord infarction
• ✓Neurological examination documenting the level and extent of cord involvement
• ✓Vascular risk factor assessment and workup for embolic source when applicable
• ✓Specification of embolic vs nonembolic mechanism when determined
• ✓Rehabilitation needs assessment and functional outcome goals

Commonly Confused Codes