P57.9

ICD-10-CM Coding Rules

• P57.9

Approximate Synonyms

• Kernicterus of newborn

• Neonatal kernicterus

Clinical Information

• A rare neurologic disorder occurring in infants with jaundice. It results from brain damage by existing high levels of unconjugated-indirect bilirubin.

• A term used pathologically to describe bilirubin staining of the basal ganglia; brain stem; and cerebellum and clinically to describe a syndrome associated with hyperbilirubinemia. Clinical features include athetosis, muscle spasticity or hypotonia, impaired vertical gaze, and deafness. Nonconjugated bilirubin enters the brain and acts as a neurotoxin, often in association with conditions that impair the blood-brain barrier e.g., sepsis). This condition occurs primarily in neonates infant, newborn), but may rarely occur in adults. menkes, textbook of child neurology, 5th ed, p613)

• Brain disorder associated with high levels of bilrubin; clinical features include athetosis, muscle spasticity or hypotonia, impaired vertical gaze, and deafness; nonconjugated bilirubin enters the brain and acts as a neurotoxin, often in association with conditions that impair the blood-brain barrier; this condition occurs primarily in neonates with perinatal blood incompatibilities, but may rarely occur in adults.

Details

• P57.9 is a billable/specific ICD-10-CM code that can be used to indicate a diagnosis for reimbursement purposes.

• The 2023 edition of ICD-10-CM P57.9 became effective on October 1, 2022.

• This is the American ICD-10-CM version of P57.9 – other international versions of ICD-10 P57.9 may differ.