2027 ICD-10-CM Diagnosis Code M17Osteoarthritis of knee

ICD-10-CM Codes›M00–M99›M15-M19›M17

ICD-10-CM M17
CMSSource: CMS FY 2027 ICD-10-CM dataset · Effective Oct 1, 2026 – Sep 30, 2027

M17 is a non-billable ICD-10-CM category code for osteoarthritis of knee, so it cannot be submitted on claims. Use a more specific code from this category instead, such as M17.0, M17.10, M17.11, and M17.12.

Code Identity

ICD-10-CM Code
M17
Billable Status
No — Non-Billable Category
Code Describes
Osteoarthritis of knee
Short Description
Osteoarthritis of knee
Same as the full description in the CMS dataset.
Chapter
M15-M19
Osteoarthritis

Code Classification

ChapterM00–M99Diseases of the musculoskeletal system and connective tissue
SectionM15-M19Osteoarthritis
CategoryM17Osteoarthritis of knee
This CodeM17Osteoarthritis of knee

Specific Coding for Osteoarthritis of kneeOverview

Non-specific codes like M17 require more characters. Use one of these billable codes instead:

  • Use M17.0 for Bilateral primary osteoarthritis of knee

  • M17.1 for Unilateral primary osteoarthritis of knee

  • Use M17.10 for Unilateral primary osteoarthritis, unspecified knee

  • Use M17.11 for Unilateral primary osteoarthritis, right knee

  • Use M17.12 for Unilateral primary osteoarthritis, left knee

  • Use M17.2 for Bilateral post-traumatic osteoarthritis of knee

  • M17.3 for Unilateral post-traumatic osteoarthritis of knee

  • Use M17.30 for Unilateral post-traumatic osteoarthritis, unspecified knee

  • Use M17.31 for Unilateral post-traumatic osteoarthritis, right knee

  • Use M17.32 for Unilateral post-traumatic osteoarthritis, left knee

  • Use M17.4 for Other bilateral secondary osteoarthritis of knee

  • Use M17.5 for Other unilateral secondary osteoarthritis of knee

  • Use M17.9 for Osteoarthritis of knee, unspecified

Instructional NotesGuidance

Instructions from the official ICD-10-CM Tabular List that apply to M17: its own notes plus those printed at block M00-M25, block M15-M19, and Chapter 13. A note printed at a category, block or chapter applies to every code under it.

Includes

Further defines, or gives examples of, the content of the category.

From Block M00-M25 applies to 2,249 codes
  • Disorders affecting predominantly peripheral (limb) joints

Excludes2

Not included here: the excluded condition is not part of this code, but a patient may have both, so both codes may be reported.

From Block M15-M19 Osteoarthritis applies to 98 codes
  • osteoarthritis of spine (M47.-)
From Chapter 13 (M00-M99) Diseases of the musculoskeletal system and connective tissue applies to 6,687 codes
  • arthropathic psoriasis (L40.5-)
  • certain conditions originating in the perinatal period (P04-P96)
  • certain infectious and parasitic diseases (A00-B99)
  • compartment syndrome (traumatic) (T79.A-)
  • complications of pregnancy, childbirth and the puerperium (O00-O9A)
  • congenital malformations, deformations, and chromosomal abnormalities (Q00-Q99)
  • endocrine, nutritional and metabolic diseases (E00-E88)
  • injury, poisoning and certain other consequences of external causes (S00-T88)
  • neoplasms (C00-D49)
  • symptoms, signs and abnormal clinical and laboratory findings, not elsewhere classified (R00-R94)

Notes

General instructions on how these codes are used.

From Chapter 13 (M00-M99) Diseases of the musculoskeletal system and connective tissue applies to 6,687 codes
  • Use an external cause code following the code for the musculoskeletal condition, if applicable, to identify the cause of the musculoskeletal condition

Source: CMS ICD-10-CM Tabular List. How to read instructional notes.

Referenced in Other NotesGuidance

Instructional notes printed at other codes that name M17, its category, or a range that includes it.

Excludes1 5

These codes carry an Excludes1 note naming M17: they are not reported together with it, unless the two conditions are unrelated.

  • M12 Other and unspecified arthropathy
    arthrosis (M15-M19) names M15-M19, which includes this code
  • M13 Other arthritis
    arthrosis (M15-M19) names M15-M19, which includes this code
  • M13 Other arthritis
    osteoarthritis (M15-M19) names M15-M19, which includes this code
  • M13.8 Other specified arthritis
    osteoarthritis (M15-M19) names M15-M19, which includes this code
  • M15 Polyosteoarthritis
    bilateral involvement of single joint (M16-M19) names M16-M19, which includes this code

Clinical InformationClinical

  • Osteoarthritis, Knee

    noninflammatory degenerative disease of the knee joint consisting of three large categories: conditions that block normal synchronous movement, conditions that produce abnormal pathways of motion, and conditions that cause stress concentration resulting in changes to articular cartilage. (crenshaw, campbell's operative orthopaedics, 8th ed, p2019)

Patient EducationClinical

Osteoarthritis

Osteoarthritis, sometimes called OA, is a type of arthritis that only affects the joints, usually in the hands, knees, hips, neck, and lower back. It's the most common type of arthritis.

The full article covers:

  • What is osteoarthritis?
  • What are the symptoms of osteoarthritis?
  • What causes osteoarthritis?
  • Who is more likely to develop osteoarthritis?
  • How is osteoarthritis diagnosed?
  • What are the treatments for osteoarthritis?

Read the full article at MedlinePlus

Courtesy of MedlinePlus, a service of the U.S. National Library of Medicine.

Code HistoryHistory

FY 2016AddedAdded to the ICD-10-CM code setEffective October 1, 2015, the first year of ICD-10-CM.
FY 2017–2026No changes
FY 2027CurrentCurrent code set, no changesEffective October 1, 2026 through September 30, 2027.

Questions About M17Overview

What is the ICD-10 code for osteoarthritis of knee?

M17 is the ICD-10-CM category for osteoarthritis of knee, but it is a non-billable header: claims need a more specific code from this category, listed on this page.

Is M17 (Osteoarthritis of knee) a billable code?

No. This is a category header that groups the codes for osteoarthritis of knee, and headers cannot be submitted on claims. Claims for osteoarthritis of knee need a more specific code from this category, such as M17.0, M17.10, and M17.11.