Intermittent hydrarthrosis, unspecified wrist

This code describes a condition characterized by recurrent, temporary swelling of a joint due to an accumulation of synovial fluid, specifically affecting an unspecified wrist. The swelling is intermittent, meaning it comes and goes, and is not associated with inflammation or other specific arthropathies.

This code is appropriate when documentation indicates intermittent hydrarthrosis of a wrist, and the specific wrist (left or right) is not specified. It should be used when the physician's diagnosis explicitly states "intermittent hydrarthrosis" without further specifying an underlying cause or a particular wrist.

• Avoid using this code if the laterality of the wrist (left or right) is documented; instead, use the more specific codes M12.431 or M12.432.
• Do not use this code if the hydrarthrosis is secondary to another condition, such as osteoarthritis or trauma; code the underlying condition first.
• Ensure documentation clearly supports the "intermittent" nature of the hydrarthrosis and the absence of a definitive underlying cause.