Bilateral primary osteoarthritis of knee

This diagnosis code signifies the presence of degenerative joint disease, specifically osteoarthritis, affecting both knees due to primary, non-traumatic causes. It indicates a chronic condition characterized by cartilage breakdown, bone changes, and pain in both knee joints.

Apply this code when documentation explicitly states bilateral primary osteoarthritis of the knee. This is appropriate for patients presenting with symmetrical knee pain, stiffness, and imaging findings consistent with osteoarthritis in both knees, without a clear secondary cause like trauma or inflammatory arthritis.

• Ensure documentation specifies "primary" and "bilateral" to support this code.
• Do not use this code if the osteoarthritis is secondary to trauma, infection, or another underlying condition; instead, refer to codes within the M17.1-M17.4 range.
• Consider additional codes for laterality if only one knee is affected (e.g., M17.11 for right, M17.12 for left).