Charcot's joint, unspecified hip

This code describes Charcot's arthropathy affecting an unspecified hip joint. Charcot's joint, also known as neuropathic arthropathy, is a progressive degenerative disease of a joint that results from nerve damage, leading to loss of sensation and proprioception, making the joint susceptible to repeated trauma and eventual destruction.

Use this code when documentation clearly indicates Charcot's arthropathy affecting the hip, but the laterality (left or right) is not specified. This typically occurs in cases where the physician's notes simply state "Charcot's hip" without further detail. Supporting documentation would include a diagnosis of Charcot's joint and imaging or clinical findings consistent with joint destruction in the hip.

• Avoid using this code if laterality is documented; instead, select a more specific code for the left (M14.652) or right (M14.651) hip.
• Always code the underlying neurological condition (e.g., diabetes mellitus with neurological complications, tabes dorsalis) first, as it is the etiology of the Charcot's joint.
• Ensure documentation specifies "Charcot's joint" or "neuropathic arthropathy" rather than general osteoarthritis or other forms of arthritis.