Total Knee Replacement ICD-10-CM Codes

hat ICD-10 codes are used for total knee replacement? 

Total knee replacement, or total knee arthroplasty, is a surgical procedure used to relieve pain and restore function in patients with severe osteoarthritis or other knee joint diseases. After surgery, it's essential to document the presence of artificial knee joints accurately using the appropriate ICD-10-CM codes.

These codes fall under the factors influencing health status and contact with health services. They are used during follow-up care, rehabilitation, and future encounters involving the knee joint. Whether the patient has a right knee replacement, left knee replacement or bilateral total knee arthroplasty replacement, the selected code must reflect the side and the presence of internal prosthetic devices.

Accurate coding supports proper medical billing and documentation and is vital in physical therapy, assessing complications, and continued care planning.

Below are the commonly used ICD-10-CM codes related to the presence of artificial knee joints:

Z96.651 – Presence of right artificial knee joint

Used when a patient has an artificial knee joint on the right side. This means the patient has undergone a surgical procedure known as a total knee replacement (TKR) or knee arthroplasty on the right knee.

Z96.652 – Presence of left artificial knee joint

This code is similar to the previous one but pertains to the left side. It indicates that the patient has an artificial knee joint on the left side resulting from a total knee replacement surgery or knee arthroplasty. 

Z96.653 – Presence of artificial knee joint, bilateral

This code is applicable when both knees have been replaced with artificial joints. It documents the presence of bilateral total knee arthroplasty.

Z96.659 – Presence of unspecified artificial knee joint

This is used when documentation does not specify whether the right, left, or bilateral knee was replaced—hence, it represents an unspecified knee. It indicates the presence of a knee joint replacement without side designation.

Which total knee replacement ICD codes are billable?

All the codes listed above are billable under the ICD-10-CM system. They are used to accurately document a patient's medical history concerning knee joint replacements and are essential for insurance claims, treatment planning, and ongoing patient management.

Clinical information

Total knee replacement, also known as total knee arthroplasty, involves surgically replacing a damaged or diseased knee joint with a prosthesis. This procedure is commonly performed to alleviate chronic pain and restore function in patients with severe osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, or other degenerative joint diseases affecting the knee.

These codes fall under the category of "Factors influencing health status and contact with health services," which helps identify patients with existing artificial joints during follow-up care, physical therapy, or when assessing complications related to the prosthesis.

Accurate coding ensures appropriate billing and aids in the continuity of care, especially when patients present with issues such as prosthetic joint infections, mechanical complications, or require revision surgeries. Total knee replacement is a common intervention for severe joint damage affecting the musculoskeletal system, particularly the knee joint.

Synonyms include

• Total knee replacement
• Artificial knee joint
• Right knee joint replacement
• Left knee joint replacement
• Bilateral total knee arthroplasty
• Presence of artificial knee
• Internal prosthetic devices in the knee
• Knee joint replacement
• The right artificial knee joint
• Left artificial knee joint

Popular search terms for this ICD code

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