Osteonecrosis due to previous trauma, multiple sites

This diagnosis code signifies the death of bone tissue resulting from a prior traumatic injury, affecting more than one anatomical location. It indicates a condition where the blood supply to multiple bone sites has been compromised due to a past physical insult, leading to bone necrosis.

Apply this code when documentation clearly states osteonecrosis at multiple sites is directly attributable to a history of trauma. This includes cases where a past fracture, dislocation, or other significant injury has led to avascular necrosis in several distinct bone areas. Supporting documentation should detail the traumatic event and the subsequent development of osteonecrosis at various locations.

• Ensure documentation explicitly links the osteonecrosis to a previous traumatic event, not an acute injury.
• Verify that multiple distinct anatomical sites are affected; single-site involvement requires a different code.
• Do not use for osteonecrosis due to other etiologies (e.g., steroids, alcoholism); specific codes exist for those causes.