Osteonecrosis due to drugs, unspecified shoulder

This code signifies the death of bone tissue in an unspecified shoulder joint, directly attributed to the use of certain medications. This condition, also known as avascular necrosis, results from an interruption of blood supply to the bone, leading to its collapse. The drug-induced etiology differentiates it from other causes of osteonecrosis.

Apply this code when documentation explicitly states osteonecrosis of the shoulder is due to drug therapy, and the specific shoulder (left or right) is not specified. Common scenarios include patients on long-term corticosteroid therapy or bisphosphonates presenting with shoulder pain and imaging confirming avascular necrosis. Documentation should clearly link the osteonecrosis to a specific drug.

• Ensure the documentation specifies "unspecified shoulder" and explicitly states a drug-induced etiology.
• Do not use this code if the laterality (left or right shoulder) is documented; instead, select the appropriate M87.11- code.
• Code the adverse effect of the drug (T36-T50 with a 5th or 6th character of 5) as a secondary diagnosis to fully capture the patient's condition.