Post-traumatic osteoarthritis, left shoulder

This code signifies degenerative joint disease of the left shoulder that develops as a direct consequence of a previous injury or trauma to that joint. It represents the chronic, progressive breakdown of articular cartilage and underlying bone in the glenohumeral joint, specifically attributed to an antecedent traumatic event.

Use this code when documentation clearly links the patient's left shoulder osteoarthritis to a prior injury, such as a fracture, dislocation, or severe sprain. The medical record should specify "post-traumatic" or indicate a history of trauma directly preceding the onset of arthritic changes in the left shoulder.

• Ensure the documentation explicitly states "post-traumatic" or provides a clear causal link between a past injury and the current osteoarthritis.
• Do not use this code for primary osteoarthritis or osteoarthritis due to other secondary causes (e.g., inflammatory arthritis) without a documented traumatic etiology.
• Consider sequencing an external cause code (V00-Y99) if the original trauma is recent and still being treated, or if the provider explicitly links the current condition to a specific past external cause.