Pauciarticular juvenile rheumatoid arthritis, unsp knee

This code signifies a chronic inflammatory joint disease affecting children, specifically involving four or fewer joints, with the affected joint being an unspecified knee. It is a form of juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) characterized by persistent arthritis.

Use this code when documentation clearly indicates a diagnosis of pauciarticular juvenile rheumatoid arthritis and specifies involvement of a knee, but does not specify laterality (left or right). This diagnosis is typically made by a pediatric rheumatologist based on clinical presentation, laboratory findings, and exclusion of other conditions.

• Ensure the documentation explicitly states "pauciarticular" or "oligoarticular" and identifies knee involvement without laterality.
• If laterality of the knee is specified (e.g., left or right knee), a more specific code from the M08.46- subcategory should be used.
• Always review the medical record for any associated systemic manifestations or other joint involvement that might necessitate additional codes.