Sprain of radiocarpal joint of unspecified wrist, sequela

This code signifies a past injury to the radiocarpal joint of an unspecified wrist, where the patient is now experiencing residual effects or complications directly attributable to that sprain. These sequelae might include chronic pain, stiffness, instability, or limited range of motion that persists long after the initial acute phase of the injury has resolved.

Apply this code when documenting a patient presenting with ongoing symptoms or conditions stemming from a previously sustained sprain of the radiocarpal joint, and the specific wrist (left or right) is not documented. This is appropriate for follow-up visits addressing chronic issues related to the original injury, rather than the initial acute sprain.

• Only use this code for conditions that are a direct result of a previous radiocarpal sprain.
• Ensure documentation clearly links the current symptoms to the historical sprain.
• Avoid using this code for acute sprains; instead, use the appropriate acute sprain code with the initial encounter or subsequent encounter seventh character.