Dislocation of carpometacarpal joint of unsp thumb, sequela

This code describes a long-term complication or late effect stemming from a previous dislocation of the carpometacarpal (CMC) joint of an unspecified thumb. These sequelae can include chronic pain, instability, degenerative changes, or functional limitations that persist after the initial injury has healed.

Use this code when documenting conditions that are a direct result of a past CMC joint dislocation of the thumb, and these conditions are no longer acute. This applies to follow-up encounters where the patient is being treated for residual problems such as post-traumatic arthritis, chronic laxity, or persistent stiffness due to the old injury.

• Always assign an additional code to describe the specific sequela (e.g., M19.04_ for post-traumatic arthritis).
• Ensure documentation clearly links the current condition to the previous CMC joint dislocation.
• Do not use this code for acute or subacute dislocations; those require codes from the initial encounter or subsequent encounter categories.