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Neurology & Pain Management Coding Alert

Reader Question:

Diagnosing Leg Weakness

Published on Mon Oct 01, 2001

Question: There is no diagnosis for leg weakness. If I look up paresis, ICD-9 refers me to paralysis. Is 344.30 appropriate?
            
Colorado Subscriber  
Answer: Diagnosis code 344.3 (monoplegia of lower limb) indicates complete paralysis of one limb. If the patient has weakness only, this diagnosis is inappropriate. For generalized weakness, report 780.79 (other malaise and fatigue). Also consider 781.4 (transient paralysis of limb), which includes monoplegia. The latter is the better code for the condition you describe because it indicates short-lived (transient), not actual, paralysis of a limb.
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