Juvenile osteochondrosis of lower extremity, excluding foot

This code signifies a group of developmental disorders affecting the growth plates (epiphyses) of bones in the lower limbs, excluding the foot, in children and adolescents. These conditions involve disruption of blood supply to the bone, leading to necrosis and subsequent regeneration, often causing pain and functional limitation.

Apply this code when documentation specifies a diagnosis of osteochondrosis affecting areas such as the femoral head (e.g., Legg-Calvé-Perthes disease), tibial tuberosity (e.g., Osgood-Schlatter disease), or other lower extremity sites like the patella or distal femur, but explicitly not the foot. Supporting documentation will include physician notes detailing the specific anatomical site and diagnostic imaging findings.

• Ensure the documentation clearly specifies a lower extremity site other than the foot.
• Distinguish from osteochondrosis of the foot (e.g., Freiberg's disease) which has separate codes.
• Do not use for adult osteonecrosis, which has different etiology and coding.