Staphylococcal arthritis, right shoulder

This code identifies an acute inflammatory condition of the right shoulder joint caused by a Staphylococcus bacterial infection. It signifies the presence of pus within the joint space, leading to pain, swelling, and restricted movement. This is a serious infection requiring prompt medical intervention.

Apply this code when documentation explicitly states a diagnosis of staphylococcal arthritis affecting the patient's right shoulder. Supporting documentation should include positive joint fluid cultures for Staphylococcus species, clinical signs of infection, and imaging findings consistent with septic arthritis.

• Ensure the documentation specifies "staphylococcal" as the causative organism; otherwise, use a more general septic arthritis code.
• Verify the laterality is explicitly stated as "right shoulder" to avoid miscoding.
• Consider sequencing this code as the primary diagnosis if it is the reason for the encounter, followed by codes for any underlying conditions or complications.