Osteonecrosis due to previous trauma, left humerus

This code describes the death of bone tissue in the left humerus resulting from a prior traumatic injury. This condition, also known as avascular necrosis, occurs when blood supply to the bone is disrupted, leading to bone collapse and joint destruction over time.

Use this code when documentation explicitly states osteonecrosis of the left humerus and attributes its etiology to a previous trauma. This typically applies to patients presenting with shoulder pain, limited range of motion, and imaging (e.g., MRI, X-ray) confirming avascular necrosis in the left humerus following a fracture, dislocation, or other significant injury to the area.

• Ensure the documentation clearly links the osteonecrosis to a previous traumatic event, not an acute injury.
• Verify the laterality (left humerus) is explicitly stated in the medical record.
• Do not use this code for osteonecrosis due to other causes (e.g., steroid use, alcoholism); specific codes exist for those etiologies.