1. Home
  2. ICD-10-CM Codes
  3. M00–M99
  4. M20-M25
  5. M24
  6. 2024 ICD-10-CM Code M24.0
Version 2024
Non-Billable Code

2024 ICD-10-CM Diagnosis Code M24.0

Loose body in joint

ICD-10-CM Code:
M24.0
ICD-10 Code for:
Loose body in joint
Is Billable?
Not Valid for Submission
Code Navigator:

Code Classification

  • Diseases of the musculoskeletal system and connective tissue
    (M00–M99)
    • Other joint disorders
      (M20-M25)
      • Other specific joint derangements
        (M24)

M24.0 is a non-specific and non-billable diagnosis code code, consider using a code with a higher level of specificity for a diagnosis of loose body in joint. The code is not specific and is NOT valid for the year 2024 for the submission of HIPAA-covered transactions. Category or Header define the heading of a category of codes that may be further subdivided by the use of 4th, 5th, 6th or 7th characters.

Specific Coding Applicable to Loose body in joint

Non-specific codes like M24.0 require more digits to indicate the appropriate level of specificity. Consider using any of the following ICD-10-CM codes with a higher level of specificity when coding for loose body in joint:

  • Use M24.00 for Loose body in unspecified joint - BILLABLE CODE

  • M24.01 for Loose body in shoulder - NON-BILLABLE CODE

  • Use M24.011 for Loose body in right shoulder - BILLABLE CODE

  • Use M24.012 for Loose body in left shoulder - BILLABLE CODE

  • Use M24.019 for Loose body in unspecified shoulder - BILLABLE CODE

  • M24.02 for Loose body in elbow - NON-BILLABLE CODE

  • Use M24.021 for Loose body in right elbow - BILLABLE CODE

  • Use M24.022 for Loose body in left elbow - BILLABLE CODE

  • Use M24.029 for Loose body in unspecified elbow - BILLABLE CODE

  • M24.03 for Loose body in wrist - NON-BILLABLE CODE

  • Use M24.031 for Loose body in right wrist - BILLABLE CODE

  • Use M24.032 for Loose body in left wrist - BILLABLE CODE

  • Use M24.039 for Loose body in unspecified wrist - BILLABLE CODE

  • M24.04 for Loose body in finger joints - NON-BILLABLE CODE

  • Use M24.041 for Loose body in right finger joint(s) - BILLABLE CODE

  • Use M24.042 for Loose body in left finger joint(s) - BILLABLE CODE

  • Use M24.049 for Loose body in unspecified finger joint(s) - BILLABLE CODE

  • M24.05 for Loose body in hip - NON-BILLABLE CODE

  • Use M24.051 for Loose body in right hip - BILLABLE CODE

  • Use M24.052 for Loose body in left hip - BILLABLE CODE

  • Use M24.059 for Loose body in unspecified hip - BILLABLE CODE

  • M24.07 for Loose body in ankle and toe joints - NON-BILLABLE CODE

  • Use M24.071 for Loose body in right ankle - BILLABLE CODE

  • Use M24.072 for Loose body in left ankle - BILLABLE CODE

  • Use M24.073 for Loose body in unspecified ankle - BILLABLE CODE

  • Use M24.074 for Loose body in right toe joint(s) - BILLABLE CODE

  • Use M24.075 for Loose body in left toe joint(s) - BILLABLE CODE

  • Use M24.076 for Loose body in unspecified toe joints - BILLABLE CODE

  • Use M24.08 for Loose body, other site - BILLABLE CODE

Tabular List of Diseases and Injuries

The following annotation back-references are applicable to this diagnosis code. The Tabular List of Diseases and Injuries is a list of ICD-10-CM codes, organized "head to toe" into chapters and sections with coding notes and guidance for inclusions, exclusions, descriptions and more.


Type 2 Excludes

Type 2 Excludes
A type 2 excludes note represents "Not included here". An excludes2 note indicates that the condition excluded is not part of the condition represented by the code, but a patient may have both conditions at the same time. When an Excludes2 note appears under a code, it is acceptable to use both the code and the excluded code together, when appropriate.
  • loose body in knee M23.4

Patient Education


Joint Disorders

What are joints?

Your joints are places where two or more bones come together. Your shoulders, elbows, hips, knees, and knuckles are all joints. Your spine has joints, too.

But joints are more than bones. They include the soft tissues around them, such as cartilage, tendons and ligaments. Cartilage is the hard slippery flexible tissue that covers the ends of your bones at a joint. Tendons are tough, flexible bands that connect your muscles to your bones so you can move your joints. Ligaments connect the bones of the joint to each other to keep them stable when you move.

What are joint disorders?

Joint disorders are diseases or injuries that affect your joints. Injuries can happen because of overuse of a joint. Or you could have a sudden injury, such as an accident or a sports injury.

What diseases can affect the joints?

Many diseases can affect the joints. They often cause joint pain and make your joints stiff, red, or swollen. Most of them are chronic. That means they last a long time. Some may never go away completely. Some of the diseases that affect the joints include:

  • Arthritis. Arthritis may cause joint pain and swelling. There are many types of this disease. Osteoarthritis is the most common type. Over time, arthritis can cause severe joint damage. It can affect people of all ages. A joint injury when you're young may cause osteoarthritis later in life.
  • Lupus. This autoimmune disease affects many parts of the body and can cause joint and muscle pain. Some types of lupus often cause arthritis.
  • Sjögren's Syndrome. This autoimmune disease affects glands that make moisture in many parts of the body. The main symptoms are dry eyes and mouth, but it often causes joint pain, too.

Treatments are different depending on the disease. But most treatments include medicines and therapies to relieve pain and other symptoms.

What types of joint disorders happen from sudden injuries?

Joint disorders from sudden injuries include:

  • Sprains and strains. Sprains are stretched or torn ligaments. Acute strains are stretched or torn muscles or tendons that happen from a sudden injury or movement, such as lifting a heavy object.
  • Dislocated joints. A joint is dislocated when the bones are pushed or pulled out of position. A joint dislocation is a medical emergency.

Treatment depends on the type of injury. You can treat many sports injuries at home. But you should call your health care provider if you:

  • Have a lot of joint pain, swelling or numbness
  • Can't put weight on the joint
  • Have pain from an old injury with more swelling, an unstable joint, or a joint that isn't normal in another way

What types of joint disorders happen from overuse?

Overuse injuries usually damage the soft tissues of the joint. They can happen when you work a joint too hard by doing the same movements over and over. For example, you could get an overuse injury from playing a musical instrument, playing sports, or doing certain jobs, such as carpentry or painting.

Joint overuse injuries include:

  • Bursitis. The bursa is a small fluid-filled sac. It works as a pad between the bones of a joint and the moving parts around it, such as muscles, tendons and skin. With bursitis, the bursa becomes irritated and swollen with extra fluid. Overuse is the most common cause, but injuries, infections and other conditions, such as arthritis, can cause bursitis.
  • Tendinitis. This condition happens when you overuse a tendon. It swells and makes the joint painful to move.
  • Chronic strain. A strain becomes chronic when your muscles or tendons stretch or tear slowly over time from repeating the same movements.

The treatments for bursitis, tendinitis, and chronic strain are often the same. They usually include rest, keeping the injured joint higher than your heart, and taking medicine to reduce swelling. Your provider may recommend gentle exercise and other treatment. In some cases, your provider may suggest an injection (a shot) of medicine into the joint. If these do not help, you may need surgery.

How can I keep my joints healthy?

Getting enough physical activity is one of the most important things you can do to prevent or slow joint disorders. Activity strengthens the muscles around your joints and helps them work better.

When you play sports, wear the right equipment to protect your joints, such as knee pads. If you already have joint problems, ask your provider what type of activities are best for you.

NIH: National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases


[Learn More in MedlinePlus]

Code History

  • FY 2024 - No Change, effective from 10/1/2023 through 9/30/2024
  • FY 2023 - No Change, effective from 10/1/2022 through 9/30/2023
  • FY 2022 - No Change, effective from 10/1/2021 through 9/30/2022
  • FY 2021 - No Change, effective from 10/1/2020 through 9/30/2021
  • FY 2020 - No Change, effective from 10/1/2019 through 9/30/2020
  • FY 2019 - No Change, effective from 10/1/2018 through 9/30/2019
  • FY 2018 - No Change, effective from 10/1/2017 through 9/30/2018
  • FY 2017 - No Change, effective from 10/1/2016 through 9/30/2017
  • FY 2016 - New Code, effective from 10/1/2015 through 9/30/2016. This was the first year ICD-10-CM was implemented into the HIPAA code set.