Find information on left knee meniscus tear diagnosis, including clinical documentation, medical coding (ICD-10, CPT), MRI findings, and treatment options. Learn about meniscus tear symptoms, like pain and swelling, and explore resources for healthcare professionals covering meniscal tear diagnosis and repair. This resource provides insights into accurate coding and documentation for a left knee meniscus tear.
Also known as
Tear of meniscus, current injury
Covers current tears of the left or right meniscus.
Internal derangement of knee
Includes various knee derangements like meniscus tears.
Bucket handle tear of meniscus
A specific type of meniscus tear, longitudinal.
Other injuries of knee and leg
Encompasses other knee injuries not classified elsewhere.
Follow this step-by-step guide to choose the correct ICD-10 code.
Is the tear traumatic?
Yes
Current injury?
No
Other tear specifications?
When to use each related code
| Description |
|---|
| Meniscus Tear Left Knee |
| Left Knee Lateral Meniscus Tear |
| Left Knee Medial Meniscus Tear |
Coding errors due to missing or incorrect laterality (left knee) documentation, leading to inaccurate claims and potential denials. Crucial for medical coding accuracy and compliance.
Insufficient documentation of the meniscus tear type (e.g., bucket handle, flap) and location (anterior, posterior horn) impacting accurate code assignment and reimbursement.
Lack of clear documentation differentiating acute from chronic meniscus tear. This distinction affects code selection and impacts CDI, coding audits, and compliance.
Patient presents with complaints of left knee pain, consistent with a possible meniscus tear. Onset of symptoms occurred [duration] ago following [mechanism of injury - e.g., twisting injury while playing sports, or insidious onset]. Patient reports experiencing symptoms such as medial or lateral joint line pain, clicking, popping, catching, locking, swelling, stiffness, and limited range of motion. Pain is exacerbated by [activities that exacerbate pain - e.g., squatting, kneeling, twisting]. Patient denies any previous knee injuries or surgeries. Physical examination reveals [positive or negative findings - e.g., tenderness along the medial or lateral joint line, positive McMurray's test, Thessaly test, joint line tenderness]. Diagnosis of meniscus tear left knee is suspected. Differential diagnosis includes ligamentous injury, patellofemoral pain syndrome, osteoarthritis, and Baker's cyst. Ordered MRI left knee to confirm diagnosis and evaluate the extent of the tear. Pending MRI results, treatment plan may include conservative management with rest, ice, compression, elevation (RICE), physical therapy, NSAIDs, and activity modification, or surgical intervention such as meniscus repair or partial meniscectomy. Patient education provided on meniscus tear treatment options, expected recovery time, and potential complications. Follow-up appointment scheduled in [duration] to discuss MRI results and finalize treatment plan. ICD-10 code M23.211 (tear of medial meniscus, left knee) or M23.212 (tear of lateral meniscus, left knee) is considered pending imaging confirmation.