Hemarthrosis, left knee

This code describes the presence of blood within the joint cavity of the left knee. It signifies an intra-articular hemorrhage affecting the left knee joint, often resulting in pain, swelling, and limited range of motion.

Use this code when documentation explicitly states hemarthrosis of the left knee. This typically occurs following trauma, surgery, or in patients with coagulopathies. Supporting documentation should include physical exam findings, imaging reports (e.g., MRI showing intra-articular fluid with characteristics of blood), or aspiration results confirming blood.

• Always specify laterality; M25.061 is for the right knee and M25.069 for unspecified.
• Code any underlying cause of the hemarthrosis (e.g., fracture, ligament tear, coagulopathy) as a primary diagnosis if it is the reason for the encounter.
• Do not confuse with effusion (M25.46-) unless the effusion is specifically documented as hemorrhagic.