Understanding paraparesis: Explore information on diagnosis, clinical documentation, and medical coding for paraparesis. Find resources for healthcare professionals, including ICD-10 codes, symptoms, treatment, and differential diagnosis of paraparesis. Learn about lower extremity weakness, spastic paraparesis, and flaccid paraparesis, along with relevant medical terminology and documentation guidelines for accurate clinical records.
Also known as
Paraparesis and paraplegia
Weakness or paralysis affecting the lower limbs.
Hemiplegia and hemiparesis
Weakness or paralysis affecting one side of the body.
Diseases of myoneural junction
Conditions affecting nerve-muscle communication, sometimes causing paraparesis.
Spondylosis
Degenerative spine changes that can compress nerves and lead to paraparesis.
Follow this step-by-step guide to choose the correct ICD-10 code.
Is the paraparesis due to a known cause?
Yes
Is it due to a spinal cord injury?
No
Is it hereditary spastic paraparesis?
When to use each related code
Description |
---|
Partial paralysis of lower limbs. |
Paraplegia |
Monoplegia, lower limb |
Insufficient documentation to specify the type or etiology of paraparesis leading to inaccurate code assignment.
Coding paraparesis without proper laterality (right, left, or bilateral) or level (upper or lower) impacting reimbursement.
Failure to code the underlying condition causing paraparesis like spinal cord injury or multiple sclerosis affects data accuracy.
Patient presents with paraparesis, exhibiting weakness in both lower extremities. Onset of paraparesis was [gradual/sudden] and began [duration] ago. The patient reports [specific symptoms such as difficulty walking, leg stiffness, muscle spasms, sensory disturbances, bowel or bladder dysfunction]. Neurological examination reveals [detailed findings, including muscle strength grading using Medical Research Council scale, presence of spasticity, hyperreflexia, clonus, sensory deficits, and assessment of gait and balance]. Differential diagnosis includes spinal cord compression, multiple sclerosis, transverse myelitis, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, and herniated disc. Initial diagnostic workup may include spinal MRI, cerebrospinal fluid analysis, electromyography, and nerve conduction studies to determine the etiology of the paraparesis. Patient education provided on paraparesis causes, symptoms, and potential treatment options. Treatment plan may involve physical therapy for gait training and strengthening, occupational therapy to address activities of daily living, medications to manage spasticity or pain, and referral to specialists such as neurologists, neurosurgeons, or physiatrists as indicated. Follow-up scheduled in [timeframe] to reassess the patient's condition and adjust the treatment plan as needed. ICD-10 code [appropriate code based on etiology, e.g., G82.20 for unspecified paraplegia].