Idiopathic chronic gout, left shoulder, without tophus

This code signifies a persistent, long-term inflammatory arthritis caused by uric acid crystal deposition, specifically affecting the left shoulder joint. The "idiopathic" designation indicates that the underlying cause of the elevated uric acid is unknown, and the absence of tophi means there are no visible or palpable uric acid deposits under the skin or in other tissues.

Apply this code when documentation clearly states a diagnosis of chronic gout in the left shoulder, without evidence of tophaceous deposits, and the etiology is not secondary to another condition. This code is appropriate for ongoing management of chronic gout flares or persistent symptoms in the specified joint.

• Ensure documentation specifies "chronic" and "idiopathic" to differentiate from acute or secondary gout.
• Verify the affected joint is the "left shoulder" and that "without tophus" is explicitly stated or clearly implied.
• Do not use if the patient has acute gout, secondary gout, or gout with tophi; separate codes exist for these conditions.