Juvenile arthritis, unspecified, unspecified shoulder

This code signifies a diagnosis of juvenile arthritis where the specific type of arthritis is not documented, and the affected joint is the shoulder, with laterality also unspecified. It indicates a chronic inflammatory condition affecting the joints in individuals under 16 years of age, without further specification of the underlying cause or precise location within the shoulder.

This code is appropriate when documentation confirms a diagnosis of juvenile arthritis affecting the shoulder, but the medical record lacks details regarding the specific subtype of juvenile arthritis (e.g., oligoarticular, polyarticular, systemic) and does not specify whether it's the left or right shoulder. It should be used when the provider's assessment explicitly states "juvenile arthritis, unspecified shoulder" or similar language without further clarification.

• Avoid using this code if the specific type of juvenile arthritis (e.g., M08.0- for juvenile rheumatoid arthritis) is documented.
• Do not use this code if the laterality of the shoulder (left or right) is specified; instead, use a more specific code from the M08.91- series.
• Query the provider for more specific documentation regarding the type of juvenile arthritis and laterality of the affected shoulder whenever possible to allow for more precise coding.