Osteoarthritis (OA Osteoarthritis ICD 9 715.9) is also known by the name degenerative arthritis or degenerative joint disease. It is a group of mechanical abnormalities involving the degradation of joints,[1] including articular cartilage and subchondral bone. Symptoms of osteoarthritis may include joint pain, tenderness, stiffness, locking, and sometimes an effusion. A variety of causes, including hereditary, developmental, metabolic, and mechanical, may initiate processes leading to loss of cartilage. When bone surfaces become less well protected by cartilage, it can potentially be exposed and damaged. As a result of decreased movement because of the pain, ligaments may become more lax and the muscles in the area may begin to atrophy.
The treatment of osteoarthritis is basically done through an exercise program targeting the affected area, lifestyle modification that includes diet and medications that includes analgesics. If the joint effected by the osteoarthritis become too debilitating due to pain, a type of surgery called joint replacement surgery may be needed to improve ones quality of life. Osteoarthritis is the most common type of arthritis and also the leading cause of chronic pain and disability.
So, what are some causes of osteoarthritis (OA Osteoarthritis ICD 9 715.9)? Some studies have shown that the mechanical stress on body joints is the cause of all arthritis. The different types of arthritis are caused by misalignment of bones, mechanical stress on the joint, mechanical injury to the joint, a person being chronically overweight, the loss of strength in the muscle that has been supporting the joint and the impairment of the peripheral nerves that lead to sudden and uncoordinated movement that will cause stress on the joint.
There are primary and secondary causes of osteoarthritis. Primary osteoarthritis is a related to aging and is a chronic degenerative disorder. This cause of arthritis is not caused by aging as is evidenced by eldery people who have no signs of the painful disease. This primary cause of arthritis is a result of water content in the cartilage decreasing as a person ages which in turn was caused from the reduced proteoglycan content. For more information and a more detailed overview on the medical explanations of Osteoarthritis IDC 9 Code 715.9, you can read more at WebMD here.
The secondary cause of osteoarthritis is similar to the primary cause with additional factors including:
- Congenital disorders of joints
- Diabetes.
- Inflammatory diseases (such as Perthes’ disease), (Lyme disease), and all chronic forms of arthritis (e.g. costochondritis, gout, and rheumatoid arthritis). In gout, uric acid crystals cause the cartilage to degenerate at a faster pace.
- Injury to joints or ligaments (such as the ACL), as a result of an accident or orthodontic operations.
- Septic arthritis (infection of a joint )
- Ligamentous deterioration or instability may be a factor.
- Marfan syndrome
- Obesity
- Alkaptonuria
- Hemochromatosis and Wilson’s disease
- Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome
Each person who suffers from osteoarthritis will be effected differently. For instance, pain and stiffness may prevent one person from being able to do simple daily activities, while another person may be able to continue to maintain an active lifestyle. The reality is, ones normal body movement may become very limited over time and trying to do your everyday activities, such as personal hygiene, household chores, or cooking may eventually become a challenge. It is suggested to refer to your health care provider for treatment that may include physical therapy and exercise, medications and perhaps even joint replacement surgery.
The Osteoarthritis ICD 9 code is 715.9. ICD-9-CM codes are used in medical billing and coding to describe diseases, injuries, symptoms and conditions. Although ICD-9-CM and CPT codes are largely numeric, they differ in that CPT codes describe medical procedures and services.
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