Congenital complete absence of unspecified upper limb

This code describes a birth defect characterized by the complete absence of an upper limb, where the specific side (right or left) is not documented. This is a severe form of congenital limb deficiency, indicating that the entire arm, including the hand and forearm, failed to develop.

Use this code when medical documentation clearly states the congenital complete absence of an upper limb, but does not specify laterality. This diagnosis is typically made at birth or during prenatal imaging. Documentation should explicitly state "complete absence" and lack laterality.

• Do not use this code if the laterality (right or left) of the absent limb is documented; instead, use the more specific codes.
• Distinguish from other congenital malformations of the upper limb, such as partial absence or hypoplasia, which have different codes.
• Ensure documentation specifies "complete absence" rather than just "absence" to avoid confusion with other forms of limb reduction defects.