2021 ICD-10-CM Code S04.039A
Injury of optic tract and pathways, unspecified side, initial encounter
Valid for Submission
S04.039A is a billable diagnosis code used to specify a medical diagnosis of injury of optic tract and pathways, unspecified side, initial encounter. The code S04.039A is valid during the fiscal year 2021 from October 01, 2020 through September 30, 2021 for the submission of HIPAA-covered transactions.
The ICD-10-CM code S04.039A might also be used to specify conditions or terms like avulsion of cranial nerve, avulsion of optic nerve, disorder of optic tract, injury of optic chiasm, injury of optic radiation , injury of optic tract, etc.
S04.039A is an initial encounter code, includes a 7th character and should be used while the patient is receiving active treatment for a condition like injury of optic tract and pathways unspecified side. According to ICD-10-CM Guidelines an "initial encounter" doesn't necessarily means "initial visit". The 7th character should be used when the patient is undergoing active treatment regardless if new or different providers saw the patient over the course of a treatment. The appropriate 7th character codes should also be used even if the patient delayed seeking treatment for a condition.
Unspecified diagnosis codes like S04.039A are acceptable when clinical information is unknown or not available about a particular condition. Although a more specific code is preferable, unspecified codes should be used when such codes most accurately reflect what is known about a patient's condition. Specific diagnosis codes should not be used if not supported by the patient's medical record.
| ICD-10: | S04.039A |
| Short Description: | Injury of optic tract and pathways, unspecified side, init |
| Long Description: | Injury of optic tract and pathways, unspecified side, initial encounter |
Code Classification
Coding Guidelines
The appropriate 7th character is to be added to each code from block Injury of cranial nerve (S04). Use the following options for the aplicable episode of care:
- A - initial encounter
- D - subsequent encounter
- S - sequela
Approximate Synonyms
The following clinical terms are approximate synonyms or lay terms that might be used to identify the correct diagnosis code:
- Avulsion of cranial nerve
- Avulsion of optic nerve
- Disorder of optic tract
- Injury of optic chiasm
- Injury of optic radiation
- Injury of optic tract
- Injury of retina
- Optic nerve and pathway injury
- Optic nerve and pathway injury
- Optic radiation disorder
- Traumatic injury of optic disk
- Traumatic injury of visual pathways
- Traumatic optic nerve injury
- Traumatic optic neuropathy
Convert S04.039A to ICD-9 Code
The General Equivalency Mapping (GEM) crosswalk indicates an approximate mapping between the ICD-10 code S04.039A its ICD-9 equivalent. The approximate mapping means there is not an exact match between the ICD-10 code and the ICD-9 code and the mapped code is not a precise representation of the original code.
- 950.2 - Injury to optic pathways (Approximate Flag)
Information for Patients
Optic Nerve Disorders
The optic nerve is a bundle of more than 1 million nerve fibers that carry visual messages. You have one connecting the back of each eye (your retina) to your brain. Damage to an optic nerve can cause vision loss. The type of vision loss and how severe it is depends on where the damage occurs. It may affect one or both eyes.
There are many different types of optic nerve disorders, including:
- Glaucoma is a group of diseases that are the leading cause of blindness in the United States. Glaucoma usually happens when the fluid pressure inside the eyes slowly rises and damages the optic nerve.
- Optic neuritis is an inflammation of the optic nerve. Causes include infections and immune-related illnesses such as multiple sclerosis. Sometimes the cause is unknown.
- Optic nerve atrophy is damage to the optic nerve. Causes include poor blood flow to the eye, disease, trauma, or exposure to toxic substances.
- Optic nerve head drusen are pockets of protein and calcium salts that build up in the optic nerve over time
Contact your health care provider if you are having vision problems. Tests for optic nerve disorders may include eye exams, ophthalmoscopy (an examination of the back of your eye), and imaging tests. Treatment depends on which disorder that you have. With some optic nerve disorders, you may get your vision back. With others, there is no treatment, or treatment may only prevent further vision loss.
- Optic glioma (Medical Encyclopedia)
- Optic nerve atrophy (Medical Encyclopedia)
- Optic neuritis (Medical Encyclopedia)
[Learn More in MedlinePlus]
Code History
- FY 2021 - No Change, effective from 10/1/2020 through 9/30/2021
- FY 2020 - No Change, effective from 10/1/2019 through 9/30/2020
- FY 2019 - No Change, effective from 10/1/2018 through 9/30/2019
- FY 2018 - No Change, effective from 10/1/2017 through 9/30/2018
- FY 2017 - No Change, effective from 10/1/2016 through 9/30/2017
- FY 2016 - New Code, effective from 10/1/2015 through 9/30/2016 (First year ICD-10-CM implemented into the HIPAA code set)