M08.422

Billable

Pauciarticular juvenile rheumatoid arthritis, left elbow

HCC Category Mapping

V28HCC 93 — Rheumatoid Arthritis and Inflammatory Connective Tissue Disease

0.175

V24HCC 40 — Rheumatoid Arthritis and Inflammatory Connective Tissue Disease

0.307

ESRDHCC 40 — Rheumatoid Arthritis and Inflammatory Connective Tissue Disease

0.000

RxHCCHCC 83 — Rheumatoid Arthritis and Inflammatory Connective Tissue Disease

0.000

What This Code Means

A type of arthritis in children that affects only a few joints, specifically involving the left elbow. It causes inflammation and stiffness in the elbow joint.

Coding Tips

•Verify left elbow is the documented site of involvement in the patient record
•This code is specific to the left side; do not use if the documentation indicates right elbow or bilateral involvement

Clinical Significance

Pauciarticular juvenile rheumatoid arthritis affecting the left elbow represents a chronic inflammatory condition that can significantly impact upper extremity function and activities of daily living. This diagnosis requires ongoing rheumatologic management to prevent joint destruction, contractures, and growth abnormalities, with potential need for orthopedic intervention and rehabilitation services.

Documentation Requirements

✓Patient age at onset (must be under 16 years)
✓Involvement of 4 or fewer joints throughout disease course
✓Documentation of left elbow joint involvement with inflammation
✓Absence of systemic symptoms (fever, rash, organomegaly)
✓Duration of symptoms (minimum 6 weeks for JRA diagnosis)
✓Physical examination findings of elbow joint swelling, warmth, or limited motion
✓Laboratory studies excluding other causes of arthritis
✓Assessment of functional impact on upper extremity use and range of motion

Commonly Confused Codes

M08.3 — Juvenile rheumatoid polyarthritis seronegative (affects 5 or more joints)M08.2x — Juvenile rheumatoid arthritis with systemic onset (has systemic symptoms)M25.522 — Pain in left elbow (symptom code, not diagnostic)M24.822 — Other specific joint derangements of left elbow (mechanical problems)M70.22 — Olecranon bursitis, left elbow (bursitis, not arthritis)

Code Hierarchy

└M08Juvenile arthritis └M08.4Pauciarticular juvenile rheumatoid arthritis └M08.42Pauciarticular juvenile rheumatoid arthritis, elbow └M08.422Pauciarticular juvenile rheumatoid arthritis, left elbow

└M08.422Pauciarticular juvenile rheumatoid arthritis, left elbow