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2025 ICD-10-CM code G31.2

Degeneration of the nervous system due to alcohol.

Use additional codes to specify any associated dementia, mood disturbances, or behavioral disturbances.Always code for the associated alcoholism (F10.-).

Medical necessity is established by the presence of neurological manifestations directly attributable to chronic alcohol use. The documentation should support the diagnosis and justify the need for treatment and/or further investigation.

Clinicians should diagnose based on medical history (including social history of drinking), physical and neurological examination, and laboratory tests.Treatment includes alcohol cessation, vitamin supplements, physical therapy, and medication.

In simple words: Long-term alcohol abuse can damage nerves and cause the brain to shrink (atrophy). This leads to problems with movement, balance, thinking, and other bodily functions.

This condition encompasses various neurological manifestations resulting from chronic alcohol abuse, including alcoholic cerebellar ataxia, alcoholic cerebellar degeneration, alcoholic cerebral degeneration, alcoholic encephalopathy, and dysfunction of the autonomic nervous system.It's crucial to also code for associated alcoholism (F10.-).

Example 1: A 45-year-old patient with a history of chronic alcohol abuse presents with unsteady gait, slurred speech, and tremors. After ruling out other causes, the physician diagnoses alcoholic cerebellar degeneration (G31.2).Associated alcoholism (F10.20) is also coded., A 60-year-old patient with long-term alcohol dependence experiences increasing confusion and memory loss. Neuropsychological testing confirms cognitive impairment, and the physician diagnoses alcoholic encephalopathy (G31.2). Alcohol dependence (F10.20) is also documented., A 50-year-old individual with a history of heavy alcohol use develops numbness and tingling in their extremities.Nerve conduction studies confirm peripheral neuropathy, consistent with alcoholic polyneuropathy, coded as (G31.2) along with alcohol use disorder (F10.90).

Documentation should include evidence of chronic alcohol abuse, detailed neurological examination findings, and results of any diagnostic tests (e.g., MRI, nerve conduction studies). The type of degeneration (cerebellar, cerebral, etc.) and associated symptoms should be clearly specified. Documentation of associated alcoholism is also required.

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