Chronic postrheumatic arthropathy, unspecified shoulder

This code represents a persistent joint disease affecting the shoulder, occurring as a long-term complication following an episode of rheumatic fever. It specifically refers to the characteristic deformities and functional limitations known as Jaccoud's arthropathy, where the joint changes are non-erosive and often reducible. The "unspecified shoulder" indicates that the laterality (left or right) is not documented.

Use this code when documentation clearly indicates a diagnosis of chronic postrheumatic arthropathy, specifically Jaccoud's type, affecting the shoulder, and the specific shoulder (left or right) is not specified. This diagnosis is typically made based on a history of rheumatic fever and characteristic physical examination findings of non-erosive, often reducible, joint deformities.

• Ensure documentation specifies "chronic" and a clear link to a prior rheumatic fever episode.
• Avoid using this code if the documentation specifies a particular shoulder (e.g., left or right); instead, use the more specific codes for laterality.
• Differentiate from other forms of chronic arthropathy not directly linked to rheumatic fever or those with erosive changes.