Degenerative Joint Disease ICD 10 Code

Osteoarthritis or Degenerative Joint Disease (DJD) is a popular long-term joint disorder in the world. In healthcare, coding and healthcare billing, such conditions should be documented correctly. At this point comes the ICD-10odification.

This blog post is going to take a closer look at what exactly Degenerative joint disease icd 10 code is, what the typical symptoms of the disorder are, how it can be caused as well as what ICD-10 codes associated with the disease are and why proper coding is relevant in clinical practice.

Table of Contents

What is degenerative Joint Disease 10 Code?

Degenerative joint disease icd 10 code, also know as osteoarthritis (OA) is a debilitating condition involving joint disorders that occurs as a result of wear-out of joint cartilage, or tissue cushioning the termination of bones. There is not enough cartilage to protect the bones, which leads to friction, pain, and swelling as well as lack of movement.

Most often attacked by DJD are:

Knees
Hips
Spine (cervical and lumbar parts)
Fingers and base of thumb Hands (especially)

Typical signs of Osteoarthritis

Early detection of DJD is vital in the management. Typical indications and manifestation are:

Tenderness and pain Around the joints
Stiffness, particularly when restlessness has occurred.
Reduced range of movements
Development of swellings around the inflamed joints
Painful feeling when movements in the joint occur
Bony protuberances (osteophytes) on the joint in question

Risk Factors and Causes

DJD has no unique cause but a few risk factors leading to its development are mentioned:

Age: The probability of being at risk heightens as the age advances.
Joint strain or over strain: The overuse of joints
Genetics: Family history of Osteoarthritis
Gender: Women have increased risks of developing DJD
Other health complications: Diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis, and so on.

What is ICD-10?

ICD-10 is the abbreviation of the International Classification of Diseases, Revision 10, a system that codifies and classifies diagnosis, symptoms and procedures globally by healthcare providers. The World Health Organization (WHO) maintains it and assists in making medical documentation and billing processes similar throughout different health systems.

ICD-10 Codes of Degenerative Joint Disease

Degenerative joint disease has no equivalent ICD-10 code. Rather, it falls within M1519 that is inclusive of other kinds and sites of osteoarthritis. The most frequently used ICD-10 codes in association with DJD are listed below:

M15 – Polyosteoarthritis

This code applies where there are several joints that have osteoarthritis.

M15.4 – Erosive osteoarthritis

M15.9 – Unspecified osteoarthritis of more than one site

M16 – Osteoarthritis of Hip

Applied in cases of DJD of the hip joint.

M16.0 – both-sided hip primary osteoporosis

M16.1- Unilateral primary osteoarthritis of hip

M16.9 – Unspecified osteoarthritis of hip

M17 – Arthrosis cruralis

Applied in cases of the knee joint.

M17.0 – Two sided primary osteoarthritis of knee

M17.11 – Right knee Unilateral primary Osteoarthritis

M17.12 – Unilateral primary Osteoarthritis left knee

M17.9- Unspecified osteoarthritis of knee

M18 – Osteoarthritis of First Carpometacarpal Joint

This relates to osteoarthritis at the base of the thumb.

M18.0 – Primary osteoarthritis of first carpometacarpal joints

M18.9 – Osteoarthritis of first carpometacarpal joint, unspecified

M19 – Other and Unspecified Osteoarthritis

Used for OA in joints not specified above or when the site is unknown.

M19.0 – Unspecified primary osteoarthritis

M19.90 – Osteoarthritis unspecified site unspecified

M19.91 – Other without mention osteoarthritis, right location

M19.92 – Unspecified osteoarthritis, site left

Cases: A case where a patient with OA in the right knee does not necessarily state that an action such as a medical procedure caused this condition, the code to use may be M17.11.

Need of Precision Now with ICD-10 Coding

ICD-10 coding is not only about administration, but is also an extremely important part of the patient care process, the insurance billing process and data tracking. That is why it is important:

Appropriate Reimbursement: Insurance firms depend upon the codes to identify the protection and reimbursement.
Clinical Communication: Aids in standardization of patient diagnosis by the medical personnel.
Data Gallery and Research: Correct coding can help in medical research, planning of the public health and policy formulation.
Law: Medical codes may be important legal documentation in the event of dispute.

DJD Diagnosis and Treatment

Diagnosis

The diagnosis normally covers:

History and physical examination of patients
X-rays to find narrow joint space or bone spurs
In complex situations an MRI or CT scan may be conducted
Blood tests (elimination of other conditions)

Treatment

DJD does not yet have any cure, yet there are a number of remedies that ostensibly soothe the condition:

Drugs: NSAIDs, corticosteroids, topical pain killers
Physical therapy: It improves joint mobility and builds muscles.
Lifestyle measures: Dieting, physical activities, preventive protection of the joints
Assistance equipment: Canes, orthotic shoes, braces
Corticosteroid or hyaluronic acid Injections
Joint replacement: severe cases

Medical Coders Tips

As a medical coder or a healthcare provider, these are some hints that will help you code DJD properly:

Name the joint that is affected ( hip, knee, hand, etc.)
Denote the laterality (left, right or bilateral)
Stipulate that the condition is either primary or secondary
You should not use unspecified codes unless there is no other alternative
Look at the documentation of the physician to clarify

Final Thoughts

Degenerative joint disease icd 10 is one of the common disabilities causing long-term disability, mostly, among ageing populations. Clinicians, medical coders and even healthcare administrators should understand what message is conveyed by a particular ICD-10 code, especially that of DJD. This is regardless of whether you are making documentation that is to be used in treatment or when billing insurance companies. Specificity in coding yields positive results at all angles.

Since the field of healthcare is quickly turning into a data-driven field, having a valid ICD-10 code is not a mere formality; it is a key to providing top-quality care to patients.