Pauciarticular juvenile rheumatoid arthritis, left ank/ft

This code signifies a chronic inflammatory joint disease affecting four or fewer joints, specifically located in the left ankle and foot, occurring in individuals under the age of 16. It represents a subtype of juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) characterized by oligoarticular involvement.

Use this code when documentation confirms a diagnosis of pauciarticular (oligoarticular) juvenile rheumatoid arthritis affecting only the left ankle and/or foot. This diagnosis is typically made by a rheumatologist based on clinical presentation, laboratory findings, and imaging studies.

• Ensure documentation specifies "pauciarticular" or "oligoarticular" and clearly identifies the left ankle and foot as the affected sites.
• Do not use this code if more than four joints are involved; consider polyarticular JIA codes instead.
• Always sequence this code as the primary diagnosis when it is the reason for the encounter.