Osteonecrosis due to drugs of left carpus

This code signifies the death of bone tissue in the left wrist (carpus) that is directly attributed to the use of certain medications. This condition can lead to pain, joint collapse, and functional impairment of the affected wrist. It specifically excludes osteonecrosis caused by other etiologies.

Apply this code when documentation clearly states osteonecrosis of the left carpus and explicitly links its causation to drug therapy. Common scenarios include patients on long-term corticosteroid use or certain chemotherapy agents who develop avascular necrosis in the wrist. Physician documentation must specify the drug-induced etiology.

• Ensure the documentation specifies "left carpus" and not a different wrist bone or laterality.
• Confirm the etiology is explicitly stated as "drug-induced" or "due to drugs"; do not assume if not documented.
• Consider sequencing this code after the underlying drug-related condition if applicable, or as a primary diagnosis if it is the main reason for the encounter.