What is the ICD-10 code for degenerative arthritis of the knee?

The ICD-10 code for degenerative arthritis of the knee includes M17.0 for bilateral primary osteoarthritis and M17.11 for unilateral primary osteoarthritis of the right knee.

How is secondary osteoarthritis of the knee coded?

Secondary osteoarthritis of the knee is coded as M17.5, with an additional code for the underlying condition, such as E66.01 for obesity.

ICD-10 Coding for Degenerative Arthritis of the Knee(M17.0, M17.1, M17.11)

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Learn about ICD-10 coding for degenerative arthritis of the knee, including primary and secondary osteoarthritis codes, documentation requirements, and common pitfalls.

Also known as:

Osteoarthritis of the KneeKnee OADegenerative Joint Disease of the Knee

Related ICD-10 Code Ranges

Complete code families applicable to Degenerative Arthritis of the Knee

M00-M99Primary Range

Diseases of the musculoskeletal system and connective tissue

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Code Comparison: When to Use Each Code

Compare key differences between these codes to ensure accurate selection

Code	Description	When to Use	Key Documentation
M17.0	Bilateral primary osteoarthritis of knee	Use when both knees are affected by primary osteoarthritis without a history of trauma.	Radiographic evidence of bilateral joint space narrowing and osteophytes
M17.11	Unilateral primary osteoarthritis, right knee	Use when primary osteoarthritis affects only the right knee.	X-ray showing medial compartment degeneration
M17.31	Post-traumatic osteoarthritis, right knee	Use when osteoarthritis is due to a previous injury to the right knee.	History of trauma with subsequent degenerative changes
M17.5	Secondary osteoarthritis of knee	Use when osteoarthritis is secondary to another condition like obesity.	Documentation of underlying condition causing OA

Primary ICD-10-CM Codes

Bilateral primary osteoarthritis of knee

M17.0Billable

Differential Codes

Alternative codes to consider when ruling out similar conditions

Bilateral secondary osteoarthritis of kneeM17.2

Use when osteoarthritis is secondary to another condition like obesity.

Unilateral primary osteoarthritis, left kneeM17.12

Use when only the left knee is affected.

Post-traumatic osteoarthritis, left kneeM17.32

Use when the left knee is affected post-trauma.

Bilateral primary osteoarthritis of kneeM17.0

Use when no underlying condition is specified.

Documentation & Coding Risks

Avoid these common issues when documenting Degenerative Arthritis of the Knee.

Failing to document the underlying cause for secondary OA

Impact

Clinical: Misrepresents the patient's condition., Regulatory: Non-compliance with coding standards., Financial: Potential for denied claims.

Mitigation

Always document the underlying condition.

Using unspecified codes when details are available

Impact

Reimbursement: May lead to lower reimbursement rates., Compliance: Non-compliance with coding guidelines., Data Quality: Decreases accuracy of health records.

Mitigation

Ensure laterality and primary vs. secondary are documented.

Laterality documentation

Impact

Failure to document laterality can lead to incorrect coding.

Mitigation

Ensure laterality is always specified in documentation.

Frequently Asked Questions

Documentation requirements, coding pitfalls and FAQs for conditions coded with M17.0.

Primary Code

M17.0

Bilateral primary osteoarthritis of knee

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ICD-10 codes11

Coding risks3

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ICD-10 Coding for Degenerative Arthritis of the Knee(M17.0, M17.1, M17.11)

Documentation & Coding Risks

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the ICD-10 code for degenerative arthritis of the knee?

How is secondary osteoarthritis of the knee coded?

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