M87.343

HCC Category Mapping

What This Code Means

Death of bone tissue in the hand caused by an underlying condition or injury when the specific side is not documented.

Coding Tips

• •Avoid this unspecified code when possible; always attempt to determine and document laterality
• •Use only when bilateral hand involvement exists or laterality documentation is genuinely unavailable

Clinical Significance

Unspecified hand secondary osteonecrosis indicates bone death from identifiable non-traumatic causes when laterality cannot be determined. This condition significantly affects hand function and fine motor skills, requiring management of both the underlying cause and bone pathology.

Documentation Requirements

• ✓Documentation of underlying secondary cause of osteonecrosis
• ✓Imaging evidence of hand osteonecrosis without specified side
• ✓Clinical findings showing hand dysfunction
• ✓Documentation explaining why laterality is unspecified
• ✓History of risk factors for secondary osteonecrosis
• ✓Exclusion of traumatic and idiopathic causes
• ✓Provider assessment of secondary nature
• ✓Evidence of bone death in hand bones through imaging

Commonly Confused Codes