Acquired absence of left ankle

This diagnosis code indicates the complete or partial removal of the left ankle joint and/or foot, which was not present at birth. This absence is a result of a surgical procedure, trauma, or disease process that necessitated the amputation.

Use this code for patients who have undergone an amputation of their left ankle, whether it was a transtibial (below-knee) amputation that includes the ankle joint, or a more distal amputation that effectively removes the ankle's function. This code is appropriate for documenting the long-term sequela of such an event.

• Ensure documentation clearly specifies the left ankle and that the absence is acquired, not congenital.
• Do not use this code for congenital absence; refer to Q codes for congenital malformations.
• Consider additional codes for the underlying cause of the amputation (e.g., diabetes, trauma, tumor) if still relevant for the current encounter.