Other infective (teno)synovitis, unspecified shoulder

This code represents inflammation of the synovial lining of a tendon sheath, or the synovial membrane of a joint, in the shoulder region, caused by an infectious agent. This condition typically presents with pain, swelling, and restricted movement in the affected shoulder due to the inflammatory process. The specific infectious organism is not identified or documented.

Use this code when documentation confirms infective tenosynovitis or synovitis of an unspecified shoulder, and the causative pathogen is not specified. This applies to cases where the infection is presumed or confirmed but the organism (e.g., bacterial, viral, fungal) is not detailed. Supporting documentation would include physician notes indicating "infective synovitis," "septic tenosynovitis," or similar diagnoses of the shoulder without further organism identification.

• Ensure the documentation explicitly states "infective" or "septic" to differentiate from non-infectious inflammatory conditions.
• Avoid using this code if a specific infectious organism is identified; instead, code the specific organism (e.g., B95-B97) as an additional diagnosis.
• If the laterality (right or left shoulder) is specified, use the more specific codes M65.111 (right) or M65.112 (left).