ICD-10 Code G97.0 – Cerebrospinal fluid leak from spinal puncture (2026): Diagnosis, Symptoms & Billing Guide
2026 ICD-10-CM Diagnosis Code G97.0 – Cerebrospinal fluid leak from spinal puncture
What it is
G97.0 identifies a cerebrospinal fluid leak that occurs after a spinal puncture, such as a lumbar puncture or spinal anesthesia. It reflects a postprocedural complication involving loss of CSF through the puncture site.
Clinical signs
Typical findings include postural headache, nausea, neck stiffness, or clear fluid leakage at the puncture site. Clinical features vary; refer to documentation.
When to use this code
Use G97.0 when the provider documents a CSF leak specifically caused by a spinal puncture. It fits cases after diagnostic lumbar puncture, spinal tap, or neuraxial procedure when the leak is identified as the complication. If the record only mentions headache without a documented leak, check documentation.
Do not use for
Do not use this code for meningitis, nonspecific postprocedural headache, or CSF leaks from trauma or surgery elsewhere. Check documentation if the cause is not clearly a spinal puncture.
Coding tip
Code the complication only when the record links the leak to the spinal puncture and distinguishes it from other postprocedural symptoms.