Hemarthrosis, unspecified wrist

This code indicates the presence of blood within the joint space of an unspecified wrist. Hemarthrosis is typically a consequence of trauma, bleeding disorders, or anticoagulant therapy, leading to pain, swelling, and limited range of motion in the affected joint.

Use this code when documentation confirms hemarthrosis of the wrist, but the specific wrist (left or right) is not specified. This code is appropriate when the etiology of the hemarthrosis is also not documented or is unknown.

• Avoid using this code if the laterality of the wrist is documented; instead, select the appropriate code for left (M25.032) or right (M25.031) wrist hemarthrosis.
• Always seek to clarify the laterality and underlying cause of the hemarthrosis if possible, to allow for more specific coding.
• Consider sequencing this code after a trauma code if the hemarthrosis is post-traumatic, or with a bleeding disorder code if applicable.