Osteonecrosis due to drugs, unspecified tibia

This code describes the death of bone tissue in the unspecified tibia due to the adverse effects of medication. This condition, also known as avascular necrosis, results from a loss of blood supply to the bone, leading to bone collapse and potential joint destruction. The specific drug causing the osteonecrosis is not identified in this particular code.

Apply this code when documentation clearly indicates osteonecrosis affecting the tibia, and the etiology is attributed to drug use, but the specific drug is not specified. This code is appropriate when the medical record confirms drug-induced osteonecrosis of the tibia without further detail on the causative agent.

• Ensure documentation specifies "unspecified tibia" if the laterality (left/right) is not documented.
• Do not use this code if the specific drug causing the osteonecrosis is known; instead, use a more specific code from the M87.1- category with an additional external cause code.
• Verify that the physician's documentation explicitly links the osteonecrosis to drug use.