Congenital absence of unspecified hand and finger

This code signifies the complete congenital absence of a hand and all its digits, where the specific side (left or right) is not documented. It represents a severe birth defect affecting the upper limb, characterized by the failure of the hand and fingers to develop during gestation.

Apply this code when medical records clearly state the congenital absence of a hand and fingers, but the laterality is unspecified. This is appropriate for initial evaluations or when documentation lacks detail regarding the affected side. Support for this code comes from physician notes, imaging reports, or genetic counseling records confirming the anomaly without specifying left or right.

• Do not use this code if the laterality (left or right) is documented; instead, select a more specific code from the Q71.3 series.
• Ensure the documentation explicitly states "congenital absence" to differentiate from acquired amputations or other malformations.
• Consider sequencing this code as a primary diagnosis when it is the main reason for the encounter, especially for evaluations, prosthetic fittings, or surgical planning.