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M24.36 vs S83.32XA

M24.36 (Pathological dislocation of knee, not elsewhere classified) compared with S83.32XA (Tear of articular cartilage of left knee, current, initial encounter), from the official CMS tabular data. Both may be reported when both conditions are documented (Excludes2). MedCoder-derived

Can these codes be reported together?

Informational

Excludes2 relationship

S83.32XA
Tear of articular cartilage of left knee, current, initial encounter
↔
M24.36
Pathological dislocation of knee, not elsewhere classified

What we found

Yes, when both are documented.S83.32XA carries an Excludes2 note covering M24.36: “old dislocation of knee (M24.36)”

Excludes2 marks distinct conditions — both may be reported when both are documented.

What to review

Report both only when the documentation supports both conditions; otherwise report the one documented.

Guide: Excludes1 vs Excludes2Check these on a claim

Why it matters

An Excludes2 note means the excluded condition is not part of the code above it, but a patient can have both. Report both when both are documented.

Source / rule

CMS ICD-10-CM tabular instructional notes

Side by side

M24.36Pathological dislocation of knee, not elsewhere classifiedS83.32XATear of articular cartilage of left knee, current, initial encounter
Billing statusNon-billable header

Report instead: M24.361, M24.362, M24.369

Billable
ClassificationM00-M99 — Diseases of the Musculoskeletal System and Connective Tissue (M00-M99)S00-T88 — Injury, Poisoning and Certain Other Consequences of External Causes (S00-T88)
DefinitionPathological dislocation of knee, not elsewhere classified is a non-billable ICD-10-CM category code (M24.36).Tear of articular cartilage of left knee, current, initial encounter is a billable ICD-10-CM diagnosis code (S83.32XA).
7th character—The appropriate 7th character is to be added to each code from category S83
Includes—
avulsion of joint or ligament of knee
laceration of cartilage, joint or ligament of knee
sprain of cartilage, joint or ligament of knee
traumatic hemarthrosis of joint or ligament of knee
Excludes1
congenital dislocation or displacement of joint- see congenital malformations and deformations of the musculoskeletal system (Q65-Q79)
current injury - see injury of joints and ligaments by body region
recurrent dislocation of joint (M24.4-)
current injury - see injury of joint by body region
—
Excludes2
ganglion (M67.4)
snapping knee (M23.8-)
temporomandibular joint disorders (M26.6-)
joints of the spine (M40-M54)
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.-)
burns and corrosions (T20-T32)
frostbite (T33-T34)
injuries of ankle and foot, except fracture of ankle and malleolus (S90-S99)
insect bite or sting, venomous (T63.4)
Code also—
any associated open wound

Notes are the code’s own tabular entry, quoted as published. A note that names the other code is the one the verdict above rests on.

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Derived from the official CMS ICD-10-CM tabular data (FY2026). A coding-rule comparison, not billing advice: payer-specific edits and medical-necessity policy are outside its scope. All data sources