Dislocation of MCP joint of left thumb, sequela

This code indicates a long-term complication or late effect resulting from a previous dislocation of the metacarpophalangeal (MCP) joint of the left thumb. This could include chronic pain, stiffness, instability, or degenerative changes that persist after the initial injury has healed.

Use this code when documenting conditions directly attributable to a past dislocation of the left thumb's MCP joint, even if the original injury occurred months or years ago. This applies when the patient is presenting for treatment of these residual issues, not the acute dislocation itself.

• Always sequence this code after the code for the specific sequela being treated (e.g., M19.042 for primary osteoarthritis of the left thumb).
• Ensure documentation clearly links the current condition to the prior left thumb MCP joint dislocation.
• Do not use this code for acute or subacute dislocations; those require codes from the initial encounter or subsequent encounter categories.