2025 ICD-10-CM code Q71.1
(Active) Effective Date: N/A Congenital malformations, deformations and chromosomal abnormalities - Reduction defects of upper limb 17 Feed
Congenital absence of upper arm and forearm with hand present.
Medical necessity for interventions is established by documenting the functional limitations due to the absence of the arm segments and how the proposed treatments (prosthetics, therapies) will improve the patient's function and quality of life.
Diagnosing and managing this condition typically falls under the purview of pediatricians, geneticists, and orthopedists. They are responsible for confirming the diagnosis, assessing the functionality of the hand, and recommending appropriate interventions, such as prosthetics or therapies.
In simple words: This is a birth defect where a baby is born missing the upper and lower parts of the arm, but the hand is still there, attached directly to the shoulder.
This condition is present from birth and involves the complete absence of both the upper arm (humerus) and forearm (radius and ulna) on one or both sides of the body. Notably, the hand remains present and is directly attached to the trunk/shoulder area.
Example 1: A newborn infant is examined and found to have a normally developed hand directly attached to the shoulder, with the complete absence of both the upper and lower arm segments., A child presents with a right hand attached at the shoulder and a full left arm. They have experienced challenges adapting to activities requiring two hands and are seeking prosthetic options., A fetus is diagnosed prenatally with the absence of both the upper and lower arm segments on one side, while the hand is observed to be present.
Documentation should include details of the physical examination, imaging studies (X-rays, ultrasounds), and any genetic testing results to confirm the diagnosis and assess the development of the hand.
- Specialties:Pediatrics, Genetics, Orthopedic Surgery
- Place of Service:Inpatient Hospital, Office, Outpatient Hospital