ICD-10 Code M02.04 – Arthropathy following intestinal bypass, hand (2026): Diagnosis, Symptoms & Billing Guide
2026 ICD-10-CM Diagnosis Code M02.04 – Arthropathy following intestinal bypass, hand
What it is
This code identifies joint disease in the hand that develops after an intestinal bypass procedure. It reflects a post-surgical arthropathy, not a primary hand arthritis diagnosis.
Clinical signs
Clinical features vary; refer to documentation. You may see hand joint pain, swelling, stiffness, or reduced motion in a patient with a history of intestinal bypass.
When to use this code
Use M02.04 when the provider documents arthropathy specifically linked to prior intestinal bypass surgery and the affected site is the hand. Code it when the record clearly connects the joint problem to that surgical history. If the site or cause is not stated, check documentation.
Do not use for
Do not use this code for unspecified hand pain, routine osteoarthritis, or inflammatory arthritis without the intestinal bypass link. Check documentation if another cause of arthropathy is recorded.
Coding tip
Always confirm both the post-bypass cause and the hand location before assigning M02.04.