Wiki Coding Arm Injury vs Wrist/Forearm Pain

[gbgentry@earthlink.net]

HPI and Final Dx of Arm Injury, Forearm Pain, & Wrist Pain

Normally, you code Injury instead of Pain but since Arm Injury defaults to shoulder & upper arm, would you still use it when also given Dxs of pain in wrist & forearm?
Or would you ignore for wrist/forearm pain since those areas aren't shoulder&upper arm?

Why or why not?
Thanks.

 

[amyjph]

I would probably query the provider to see if they can be more specific about the "arm injury" first. Sprain, strain, open wound, fracture, contusion, laceration, dislocation, like, what kind of "injury"? So vague.