Lead-induced chronic gout, unspecified elbow, without tophus

This code signifies a chronic inflammatory arthritis caused by lead toxicity, specifically affecting an unspecified elbow joint. The condition is characterized by recurrent attacks of severe pain, swelling, and redness, but without the presence of urate crystal deposits (tophi) in the affected joint or surrounding tissues.

Use this code when documentation clearly indicates a diagnosis of chronic gout directly attributed to lead exposure, with symptoms localized to an elbow joint. The medical record must explicitly state the absence of tophi and specify the chronic nature of the condition.

• Ensure documentation explicitly links the gout to lead exposure; otherwise, a different gout code may be more appropriate.
• Verify the absence of tophi; if present, a different subcategory of gout with tophi would be coded.
• Confirm the affected joint is an elbow; if another joint is involved, select the appropriate site-specific code.