Tear of lateral cartilage or meniscus of knee, current

This code represents an acute, traumatic rupture or laceration of the lateral meniscus of the knee. This injury typically results in pain, swelling, and mechanical symptoms such as locking or catching in the knee joint. It specifically refers to a current injury, not a chronic or old tear.

Use this code when documentation clearly indicates a new or acute tear of the lateral meniscus. This diagnosis is often supported by physical examination findings, imaging studies (e.g., MRI), and a history of recent trauma to the knee. It is appropriate for initial encounters for this injury.

• Ensure documentation specifies "lateral" meniscus; otherwise, an unspecified meniscal tear code may be more appropriate.
• Distinguish between current (acute) tears and old/chronic tears, which would be coded differently.
• Look for laterality (right/left knee) in the documentation to ensure proper assignment if a more specific code exists in the code set being used.