ICD-10 Code M23.2: Derangement of meniscus due to old tear or injury
What is this code?
ICD-10 entries help standardize how diagnoses are organized for coding, reporting, analytics, and documentation. This code sits within the broader ICD-10 area for Diseases of the musculoskeletal system and connective tissue (M00-M99).
šClinical overview
This ICD-10 code is commonly used when documentation describes derangement of a knee meniscus due to old tear or injury. The most accurate code depends on whether the meniscus is medial, lateral, or unspecified, which horn or part is involved, and which knee is affected.
When is it used?
- May be used when a clinician documents derangement of meniscus due to old tear or injury in a patient's medical record.
- May appear in hospital records, claims, referrals, and clinical documentation.
- This code may act more like a grouping or parent code, so a more specific child code may be used in final documentation when available.
What it does not mean
- A code alone does not explain severity, treatment plan, or outcome.
- A medical code should not be treated as a substitute for a doctor's diagnosis or advice.
- This entry may represent a broader category rather than the most specific billable code.
š©ŗClinical context
- Orthopedic, sports-medicine, rehabilitation, and imaging workflows where chronic or old-tear meniscal derangement is part of the documented knee problem list.
- Coding and utilization-review workflows where the record supports meniscal derangement due to old tear or injury and the final code changes based on compartment, horn location, or laterality.
- Evaluation often includes knee pain and mechanical-symptom review, physical examination, MRI or other imaging context, and planning for orthopedic follow-up or rehabilitation.
- Documentation usually becomes more specific when the chart identifies medial versus lateral meniscus, anterior versus posterior horn, other-part involvement, or right versus left knee.
- Specialist context already linked on this page includes Orthopedic Specialist, Rheumatologist, ENT Specialist.
šKey distinctions
- These ICD-10 codes are reserved for chronic or old-tear-or-injury meniscal derangement rather than acute traumatic meniscal injury.
- Meniscal compartment, horn location, and laterality all affect final code specificity inside this family.
- Documentation that describes meniscal derangement due to old tear or injury is coded differently from acute traumatic meniscal injury, ligament derangement, or other knee disorders.
Code hierarchy
Official coding notes
- Old bucket-handle tear
Where you may see this code
You may see this entry in coding references, medical records, or claims workflows when a broader diagnosis category is being reviewed before a more specific code is chosen.
Related specialists
Related codes
Sibling codes
Coding guidelines
Compatibility
Common synonyms
Frequently asked questions
About this content
This page is prepared by HealthAssure's clinical team using official coding standards from ICD-10. AI tools assist with drafting explanations, which are then reviewed and verified by healthcare professionals for accuracy. This content is for informational purposes and does not replace professional medical advice. Meet our team.