Osteonecrosis in diseases classd elswhr, multiple sites

This code signifies the death of bone tissue due to a loss of blood supply, occurring in multiple anatomical locations, when the underlying cause is a systemic disease. It indicates avascular necrosis that is secondary to another classified condition, rather than being idiopathic or trauma-induced.

Apply this code when documentation clearly states osteonecrosis affecting more than one site, and the etiology is attributed to a systemic disease such as lupus, sickle cell anemia, or chronic corticosteroid use. Ensure the medical record specifies "multiple sites" and links the osteonecrosis to a primary disease classified elsewhere.

• Always sequence the underlying systemic disease code first, as this code is an "in diseases classified elsewhere" code.
• Do not use this code for osteonecrosis due to trauma or idiopathic causes; specific codes exist for those scenarios.
• Verify that "multiple sites" is explicitly documented; otherwise, site-specific osteonecrosis codes should be used.