Other infective (teno)synovitis, left shoulder

This code describes an inflammatory condition affecting the synovial lining of a tendon sheath (tenosynovitis) or the synovial membrane of a joint (synovitis) in the left shoulder, caused by an infectious agent other than a specified bacterial or viral infection. It indicates an infection leading to inflammation of these structures, impacting the function and mobility of the left shoulder joint.

Use this code when documentation specifies an infectious tenosynovitis or synovitis of the left shoulder, and the infectious agent is not otherwise specified or is non-bacterial/non-viral. This code is appropriate when the provider explicitly states "other infective tenosynovitis" or "infective synovitis" of the left shoulder, and the infection is not due to a specific organism like staphylococcus or streptococcus.

• Ensure the documentation clearly specifies "infective" and the laterality as "left shoulder."
• Distinguish from non-infective tenosynovitis (M65.8xx) or synovitis (M65.9xx) which do not involve an infectious etiology.
• If the specific infectious organism is identified, a more specific code from categories A00-B99 should be considered as a primary or secondary diagnosis, depending on the clinical scenario.