Osteonecrosis due to previous trauma, left femur

This code signifies the death of bone tissue in the left femur resulting from a prior traumatic injury. This condition, also known as avascular necrosis, occurs when the blood supply to the bone is disrupted, leading to bone collapse and potential joint destruction.

Apply this code when documentation clearly links osteonecrosis of the left femur to a history of trauma, such as a fracture or dislocation. Supporting documentation should include imaging reports (e.g., MRI, X-ray) confirming osteonecrosis and a detailed patient history outlining the previous traumatic event.

• Ensure the documentation explicitly states "previous trauma" as the etiology; otherwise, a different M87 subcategory may be more appropriate.
• Verify the affected side is the left femur. Laterality is crucial for accurate coding.
• Consider sequencing this code after any acute traumatic injury codes if the osteonecrosis developed as a direct complication of that injury.