Traumatic arthropathy, left shoulder

This code signifies a degenerative joint condition of the left shoulder resulting from a previous injury. It describes chronic joint damage, pain, and functional limitation directly attributable to a past traumatic event affecting the glenohumeral joint.

Apply this code when documentation clearly links a patient's current left shoulder arthropathy to a specific, prior trauma. This is appropriate for conditions like post-traumatic osteoarthritis or other forms of joint degeneration following fractures, dislocations, or severe sprains of the left shoulder.

• Ensure the documentation explicitly states a causal link between trauma and the arthropathy.
• Distinguish from primary osteoarthritis (M19.022) or other specified arthropathies not related to trauma.
• Code any acute injury that led to the traumatic arthropathy separately, if still being treated.