Abrasion, unspecified knee, initial encounter

This code signifies a superficial injury involving the scraping or rubbing off of the outer layer of skin on the knee, where the specific side (left or right) is not documented. It indicates that this is the first time the patient is being treated for this particular injury.

Apply this code when documentation describes an abrasion to the knee without specifying laterality (e.g., "knee abrasion"). It is appropriate for the initial visit or encounter where the injury is first evaluated and treated. Subsequent encounters for the same injury would require a different seventh character.

• Ensure the documentation explicitly states "abrasion" and does not specify left or right knee.
• Verify that this is indeed the initial encounter for this specific injury.
• Do not use if there is an open wound extending beyond the epidermis, such as a laceration or puncture.