ICD-10 code for cerebrospinal fluid leak

The ICD-10-CM code for cerebrospinal fluid leak is G96.00 (Cerebrospinal fluid leak, unspecified). The official index lists 11 more specific codes, so check the documentation for details such as type, cause, site or severity before settling on G96.00.

Within G96.0, choose G96.00 (unspecified) only when documentation doesn't support a more specific option: cranial cerebrospinal fluid leak, spontaneous (G96.01), spinal cerebrospinal fluid leak, spontaneous (G96.02), other cranial cerebrospinal fluid leak (G96.08) and other spinal cerebrospinal fluid leak (G96.09).

As a secondary diagnosis it is a CC (complication or comorbidity), which can move an inpatient stay into the "with CC" MS-DRG of its family, unless the principal diagnosis excludes it.

In MS-DRG v44.0, it is part of the grouping logic for DRG 091 (Other Disorders of Nervous System with MCC, relative weight 1.7046), DRG 092 (Other Disorders of Nervous System with CC, relative weight 1.0239), DRG 093 (Other Disorders of Nervous System without CC/MCC, relative weight 0.7783), DRG 791 (Prematurity with Major Problems, relative weight 4.1075) and DRG 793 (Full Term Neonate with Major Problems, relative weight 4.2195), in MDC 01 (Diseases and Disorders of the Nervous System) and MDC 15 (Newborns and Other Neonates with Conditions Originating in the Perinatal Period), as a principal or secondary diagnosis. The DRG a claim lands in depends on the principal diagnosis, procedures and any CC/MCC secondary diagnoses.