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M71.161 vs M71.162

M71.161 (Other infective bursitis, right knee) compared with M71.162 (Other infective bursitis, left knee), from the official CMS tabular data. M71.161 and M71.162 code the same condition on opposite sides.

Relationship

Review

Laterality relationship

M71.161
Right
Other infective bursitis, right knee
M71.162
Left
Other infective bursitis, left knee

Same condition; these differ only in which side is documented.

These codes share a category and title and differ only in the side affected. The documentation decides which applies, and a bilateral code is reported only where the code set provides one.

Source: ICD-10-CM tabular list (laterality variant derived from the code title)

Can these codes be reported together?

Same condition, opposite side. M71.161 and M71.162 name the same condition on opposite sides of the body.

Same category and title, differing only in which side is affected — the documentation decides which one applies, and a bilateral code is reported only where the code set provides one.

Side by side

M71.161Other infective bursitis, right kneeM71.162Other infective bursitis, left knee
Billing statusBillableBillable
ClassificationM00-M99 — Diseases of the Musculoskeletal System and Connective Tissue (M00-M99)M00-M99 — Diseases of the Musculoskeletal System and Connective Tissue (M00-M99)
DefinitionOther infective bursitis, right knee is a billable ICD-10-CM diagnosis code (M71.161).Other infective bursitis, left knee is a billable ICD-10-CM diagnosis code (M71.162).
Use additional code
code (B95.-, B96.-) to identify causative organism
code (B95.-, B96.-) to identify causative organism

Derived from the official CMS ICD-10-CM tabular data (FY2026). Not billing advice; verify sequencing rules for the encounter. All data sources