Is S83.281 a billable ICD-10-CM code?

No. S83.281 is a non-billable header code. Code to a higher level of specificity using one of its child codes.

Where does S83.281 sit in the tabular list?

Injury, poisoning and certain other consequences of external causes (S00-T88), in the block Injuries to the knee and lower leg (S80-S89).

What cannot be coded together with S83.281?

S83.281 carries Excludes1 notes, which means the conditions they list can never be coded together with it on the same encounter. Some are written on the categories above S83.281 (S83.2) and apply to it just the same.

S83.281

S83.281 — Other tear of lateral meniscus, current injury, right knee

Non-billable headerICD-10-CMright

S83.281 is a non-billable header ICD-10-CM code for other tear of lateral meniscus, current injury, right knee. It cannot be billed on its own: choose one of the more specific child codes below. This code also requires a 7th character before it is complete.

This code requires a 7th character

The appropriate 7th character is to be added to each code from category S83

A: initial encounter
D: subsequent encounter
S: sequela

Excludes1 inherited from the categories above S83.281

These are not written on S83.281, but they bind it: a note on a category applies to every code beneath it. Billing S83.281 with anything listed here is a denial.

Written on S83.2 — Tear of meniscus, current injury

old bucket-handle tear (M23.2)

Excludes2 inherited from the categories above S83.281

Also inherited, and the opposite of Excludes1: these conditions are not part of S83.281, but a patient can have both, so you may code both.

Written on S83 — Dislocation and sprain of joints and ligaments of knee

derangement of patella (M22.0-M22.3)
injury of patellar ligament (tendon) (S76.1-)
internal derangement of knee (M23.-)
old dislocation of knee (M24.36)
pathological dislocation of knee (M24.36)
recurrent dislocation of knee (M22.0)
strain of muscle, fascia and tendon of lower leg (S86.-)

Risk adjustment

S83.281 does not map to an HCC and does not risk-adjust under CMS-HCC V28. That is normal — most ICD-10 codes do not. It still needs to be coded correctly; it just will not move a RAF score.

Code history

S83.281 has not changed since FY2024 — no addition, revision or deletion across the three most recent ICD-10-CM releases.

Code to one of these instead S83.281

3 child codes. Green means billable.

Related codes at this level

Codes that share S83.28. If S83.281 is not quite right, the correct code is usually one of these.

Questions about S83.281

Is S83.281 a billable ICD-10-CM code?: No. S83.281 is a non-billable header code. Code to a higher level of specificity using one of its child codes.
Where does S83.281 sit in the tabular list?: Injury, poisoning and certain other consequences of external causes (S00-T88), in the block Injuries to the knee and lower leg (S80-S89).
What cannot be coded together with S83.281?: S83.281 carries Excludes1 notes, which means the conditions they list can never be coded together with it on the same encounter. Some are written on the categories above S83.281 (S83.2) and apply to it just the same.