Postdysenteric arthropathy, left shoulder

This code signifies an inflammatory joint condition affecting the left shoulder, occurring as a reactive sequela to a previous dysenteric infection. It represents a sterile arthritis, meaning no active infection is present in the joint itself, but rather an immune response triggered by the antecedent gastrointestinal illness.

Apply this code when documentation clearly indicates a diagnosis of reactive arthropathy of the left shoulder following a confirmed or suspected dysenteric episode. The medical record should explicitly link the shoulder arthritis to the prior intestinal infection, often with a history of diarrhea and positive stool cultures for dysentery-causing organisms (e.g., Shigella, Salmonella).

• Ensure the documentation specifies "left shoulder" to support the laterality.
• Do not confuse with septic arthritis (M00.-) or other forms of reactive arthritis not linked to dysentery.
• Sequence this code after the code for the underlying dysenteric infection, if still active and relevant to the current encounter.