Traumatic arthropathy, unspecified wrist

This code signifies degenerative joint disease in an unspecified wrist joint that is directly attributable to a prior traumatic injury. It represents chronic arthritic changes, such as cartilage loss and osteophyte formation, resulting from a single or repetitive trauma to the wrist.

Use this code for patients presenting with chronic wrist pain, stiffness, and imaging evidence of degenerative changes where a clear history of trauma to the wrist is documented. This code is appropriate when the specific wrist (right or left) is not documented by the provider.

• Ensure documentation explicitly links the arthropathy to a past traumatic event.
• Avoid using this code if the specific wrist (right or left) is documented; instead, use the more specific codes M12.531 or M12.532.
• Do not use for acute traumatic injuries; this code is for the sequelae of trauma.