Acquired absence of right hand

This code signifies the complete or partial absence of the right hand due to a cause other than a congenital defect. This condition is typically the result of trauma, disease, or surgical amputation. Patients with this diagnosis will experience significant functional limitations affecting activities of daily living.

Use this code for patients who have undergone an amputation of the right hand, or who have lost the right hand due to a severe injury or disease process. This code is appropriate for documenting the long-term sequelae of such an event, rather than the acute injury itself. It is also used for prosthetic fitting and rehabilitation services related to the missing limb.

• Always specify laterality (right, left, bilateral) when documenting limb deficiencies.
• Do not use this code for congenital absence; refer to codes in the Q71-Q73 range for congenital malformations.
• Consider additional codes for the underlying cause of the amputation (e.g., traumatic injury, diabetes with gangrene) if still relevant for the encounter.