Oth tear of medial meniscus, current injury, left knee, init

This code signifies a fresh tear in the medial meniscus of the left knee, which is the C-shaped cartilage on the inner side of the knee joint. This injury is distinct from a complete avulsion or bucket-handle tear and is considered a new, acute event.

Apply this code when documenting a newly diagnosed, non-specific tear of the medial meniscus in the left knee. This is appropriate for initial evaluations following an acute injury, such as a twisting motion or direct impact to the knee. It should be used for the first encounter where this specific injury is being treated.

• Ensure documentation clearly specifies "left knee" and "medial meniscus."
• Verify the tear is not described as a bucket-handle or avulsion, as those have more specific codes.
• The "A" at the end indicates an initial encounter for this specific injury. Subsequent care would use a different seventh character.