Tear of articular cartilage of left knee, current

Not billableICD-10-CM diagnosis code.

This code exists but cannot be submitted on its own. It groups the more specific codes beneath it.

A category header for its whole life, FY2016 onwards. It has never been valid for submission on its own.

Submit one of these 3 more specific codes instead:

S83.32XA Tear of articular cartilage of left knee, current, initial encounter
S83.32XD Tear of articular cartilage of left knee, current, subsequent encounter
S83.32XS Tear of articular cartilage of left knee, current, sequela

This code requires a seventh character. See the rule below.

What has happened to this code

Every change the publisher made, from 2014 to now. Entries marked draft are from the pre-implementation releases: ICD-10 took effect on 1 October 2015, so nothing before FY2016 was ever valid on a claim.

FY2014 Added to the draft code set draft Tear of articular cartilage of left knee, current

Official coding rules

Published by CDC for FY2027. A rule attached to a category binds every code beneath it, so the rules inherited from this code's ancestors are shown with the code they come from.

Inherited from S83 Dislocation and sprain of joints and ligaments of knee

Seventh character required

The appropriate 7th character is to be added to each code from category S83

Excludes2 - not included here

derangement of patella (M22.0-M22.3)
injury of patellar ligament (tendon) (S76.1-)
internal derangement of knee (M23.-)
old dislocation of knee (M24.36)
pathological dislocation of knee (M24.36)
recurrent dislocation of knee (M22.0)
strain of muscle, fascia and tendon of lower leg (S86.-)

Code also

any associated open wound

Includes

avulsion of joint or ligament of knee
laceration of cartilage, joint or ligament of knee
sprain of cartilage, joint or ligament of knee
traumatic hemarthrosis of joint or ligament of knee
traumatic rupture of joint or ligament of knee
traumatic subluxation of joint or ligament of knee
traumatic tear of joint or ligament of knee

Inherited from the S80-S89 section Injuries to the knee and lower leg (S80-S89)

Excludes2 - not included here

burns and corrosions (T20-T32)
frostbite (T33-T34)
injuries of ankle and foot, except fracture of ankle and malleolus (S90-S99)
insect bite or sting, venomous (T63.4)

How CDC's index refers to this code

Wording from the official alphabetic index. Much of it appears nowhere in the code description, which is why a search for the everyday phrase so often finds nothing.

Rupture, ruptured > cartilage > knee
Tear, torn > knee cartilage > articular

Codes in the same group

Code	Description	Status
S83.30	Tear of articular cartilage of unspecified knee, current	Not billable
S83.31	Tear of articular cartilage of right knee, current	Not billable