Postdysenteric arthropathy, left wrist

This code signifies an inflammatory joint condition affecting the left wrist that develops as a reactive arthritis following a dysenteric infection. It is a sterile arthritis, meaning no live bacteria are present in the joint, but it is triggered by a prior gastrointestinal infection, typically bacterial.

Apply this code when documentation clearly indicates a diagnosis of reactive arthropathy of the left wrist, specifically linked to a preceding dysenteric illness. The patient's history should include a confirmed or highly suspected episode of dysentery, followed by the onset of left wrist arthritis.

• Ensure documentation specifies "postdysenteric" and not just general reactive arthritis, as other triggers exist.
• Confirm the laterality is explicitly stated as "left wrist"; avoid using this code for bilateral or unspecified wrist involvement.
• Sequence this code after the code for the underlying dysenteric infection, if still active or relevant to the current encounter.