Drug-induced chronic gout, unspecified hand, without tophus

This code signifies a persistent inflammatory arthritis caused by medication, specifically affecting an unspecified hand joint. The condition is characterized by elevated uric acid levels due to drug side effects, but without the presence of visible or palpable urate crystal deposits (tophi).

Apply this code when documentation clearly indicates chronic gout induced by a specific drug, impacting a hand joint, and explicitly states the absence of tophi. This is appropriate for patients presenting with chronic hand pain, swelling, and tenderness, where a medication is identified as the causative agent for hyperuricemia and subsequent gout.

• Ensure the medical record explicitly links the gout to a drug and specifies "chronic."
• Verify that "unspecified hand" is the most accurate anatomical site; if a specific hand (right/left) or finger is documented, a more precise code should be used.
• Confirm the absence of tophi; if tophi are present, a different code from the M1A.2- series would be appropriate.