S83.21 ICD-10-CM Code: Bucket-handle tear of medial meniscus, current injury

Coding instructions

Official Tabular Instructional Notes: the inclusion, exclusion and sequencing notes published for S83.21 in the official ICD-10-CM tabular list, quoted as published.

Notes without a marker are published on S83.21 itself; “inherited from” names the category or block whose note applies here.

7th Character Guide

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

• A — initial encounter
• D — subsequent encounter
• S — sequela

How the encounter character is assigned. “Initial encounter” means the patient is receiving active treatment for the condition — it is not limited to the first visit, and a different or new provider giving active treatment still assigns it. “Subsequent encounter” covers care during the healing or recovery phase after active treatment. “Sequela” is for complications or conditions that arise as a direct result of the original condition.

ICD-10-CM Official Guidelines for Coding and Reporting, Section I.C.19.a (paraphrased by MedCoder).

Variant codes in this family

S83.211A, S83.211D, S83.211S, S83.212A, S83.212D, S83.212S, S83.219A, S83.219D

Character meanings are CMS's official 7th-character extensions for this family, as carried in each variant code's official description; variant codes are registry rows. The explanation of how the encounter character is assigned is MedCoder editorial, distinct from the official content above it.

Coder workflow for S83.21

MedCoder structured workflow — derived from this code’s own official record

Before you code S83.21

1. S83.21 is not reportable as written. Select the more specific code beneath it that the documentation supports. Codes are reported to the highest level of specificity the classification provides (Guidelines I.B.2).

   ReviewS83.211, S83.212, S83.219

   See the hierarchy · Guide: How to choose an ICD-10-CM code →

2. A 7th character is required in this family. Confirm the documented encounter: initial (active treatment), subsequent (healing or recovery phase), or sequela. S83.21 is not valid without one. “Initial” means active treatment, not the first visit (Guidelines I.C.19.a).

   See the 7th Character Guide · Guide: 7th characters: initial, subsequent, sequela →

3. Confirm the injury type, the anatomical site at the most specific level documented, laterality where the family codes it, and the encounter for the 7th character. Each injury is coded separately unless the classification provides a combination code, and a superficial injury is not coded when a more severe injury of the same site is documented. Injury chapter guidelines (Guidelines I.C.19.b, I.C.19.b.1).

   Guide: 7th characters: initial, subsequent, sequela →

4. Check the Excludes1 note: if the documentation supports a condition named there, do not simply proceed with S83.21. Excludes1 conditions are not reported together with this code unless the record shows they are unrelated (Guidelines I.A.12.a).

   See the official tabular notes

Choose the right path

1. Does the documentation support one of the more specific codes beneath S83.21?
   Yes → Select that code and continue the checks below on its own page.
   No → S83.21 cannot be reported as written; query for the specificity its subcategory needs.

   ReviewS83.211, S83.212, S83.219

2. Does the documentation support a condition named in S83.21’s Excludes1 note?
   Yes → Do not simply proceed: review the excluded code. Both are reported only when the record shows the two conditions are unrelated.
   No → Continue.

   ReviewM23.2

3. Is the encounter phase documented — active treatment, healing or recovery, or a sequela?
   Yes → Assign the matching 7th character; the variant codes are in the 7th Character Guide.
   No → The code is invalid without its 7th character — query for the missing element.

Consider S83.21. Then review the Code Also note, and confirm the code is valid for the date of service in the Verify section.

Documentation check

The provider’s diagnostic statement

Codes are assigned from the provider’s documented diagnosis, not from clinical criteria, test values or a medication list (Guidelines I.A.19).

Anatomical site

At the most specific level the record states; a site the classification separates cannot be assumed from a procedure or a measurement.

Encounter type

Active treatment, healing or recovery phase, or sequela — the basis of the 7th character (Guidelines I.C.19.a).

External cause, place and activity

For the external cause codes reported with the injury or poisoning, where documented (Guidelines I.C.20.a).

Official instructions as workflow

• Excludes1 — check before selecting S83.21(1 note)

  Coding workflow: If the documentation supports a condition named in this note, do not simply proceed with S83.21: the two are not reported together. The one exception is when the record shows the two conditions are unrelated to each other.

  CompareM23.2

  See the official tabular notes · Guidelines I.A.12.a

• Excludes2 — not part of S83.21(11 notes)

  Coding workflow: The conditions named in this note are not included in S83.21. When the record documents both, both may be reported; the note is a boundary, not a prohibition.

  CompareS76.1, M23, M24.36, M22.0, S86, T63.4

  See the official tabular notes · Guidelines I.A.12.b

• Code Also — related condition(1 note)

  Coding workflow: Review the related condition when both are documented and the instruction applies. A Code Also note does not fix sequencing; the order follows the circumstances of the encounter.

  See the official tabular notes · Guidelines I.A.17

Coding decision scenarios

Pattern scenarios for this code’s structure — decision rules, not clinical cases

Every row is derived from this code’s own record — its title, tabular notes, 7th-character family and same-category siblings — with fixed MedCoder wording; nothing is inferred about a patient. The official notes and guideline text are in the sections each row links to, and they control.

Don’t confuse S83.21 with…

MedCoder analysis — pairs from this code’s official notes, distinctions written by MedCoder

The codes most likely to be picked instead of S83.21 — named in its own official notes, or sharing its laterality or encounter family — with what separates them and which documentation moves the case. Each links to the full comparison.

• M23.2— Excludes1 conflict (Conflict)

  Not coded here — these two are mutually exclusive.

  Not reported together with this code, except where the two conditions are documented as unrelated.

  What moves you there: Documentation of old bucket-handle tear moves the case to M23.2; the two are not reported together unless documented as unrelated.

  Full comparison: S83.21 vs M23.2 →

• S83.211A— Encounter relationship (Review)

  Same underlying diagnosis, different encounter phase.

  The same diagnosis at a different phase of care; one encounter takes one 7th character.

  What moves you there: Documentation of a initial encounter moves the case to S83.211A.

  Full comparison: S83.21 vs S83.211A →

• S83.211D— Encounter relationship (Review)

  Same underlying diagnosis, different encounter phase.

  The same diagnosis at a different phase of care; one encounter takes one 7th character.

  What moves you there: Documentation of a subsequent encounter moves the case to S83.211D.

  Full comparison: S83.21 vs S83.211D →

• M22.0— Excludes2 relationship (Informational)

  Distinct conditions — both may be reported.

  A distinct condition — both may be reported when both are documented.

  What moves you there: Documentation of derangement of patella adds M22.0; it is not part of this code and both may be reported when both are documented.

  Full comparison: S83.21 vs M22.0 →

• M22.3— Excludes2 relationship (Informational)

  Distinct conditions — both may be reported.

  A distinct condition — both may be reported when both are documented.

  What moves you there: Documentation of derangement of patella adds M22.3; it is not part of this code and both may be reported when both are documented.

  Full comparison: S83.21 vs M22.3 →

• S76.1— Excludes2 relationship (Informational)

  Distinct conditions — both may be reported.

  A distinct condition — both may be reported when both are documented.

  What moves you there: Documentation of injury of patellar ligament (tendon) adds S76.1; it is not part of this code and both may be reported when both are documented.

  Full comparison: S83.21 vs S76.1 →

Relationships are read from this code's own official notes, its laterality siblings and its encounter family; the wording of each distinction is MedCoder editorial, and the documentation named in each “what moves you there” line is the official note phrase or sibling title itself. Source: CMS ICD-10-CM tabular instructional notes; ICD-10-CM Official Guidelines, Section I.A.12.a.

Decision Points

The directives on this code's own record, as a pre-claim checklist.

1. A 7th character applies in this family. Confirm the documented encounter matches the character assigned. See the official 7th-character definitions and this code’s variants
2. 1 Code Also note — a second code may apply; the guidelines leave its sequencing to the circumstances of the encounter. See the Code Also notes
3. 1 Excludes1 entry — codes named there are generally not reported together with this code (Guidelines I.A.12.a). See the Excludes1 notes
4. 11 Excludes2 entries — those conditions are not part of this code and may be reported additionally when documented. See the Excludes2 notes

Checklist rows are derived from this code's own official directives; the wording of each check is MedCoder editorial. The official notes themselves are in the sections each row links to.

Verify Before Coding

• Not billable as written — a more specific code is required: S83.211A, S83.211D, S83.211S, S83.212A, S83.212D.
• Requires a 7th character. "The appropriate 7th character is to be added to each code from category S83" Options: S83.211A, S83.211D, S83.211S, S83.212A, S83.212D, S83.212S

From the code registry, the Medicare Code Editor, and the MS-DRG Definitions Manual. Check it against a full claim in Claim Check.

Relationships & Classification

Other codes that name S83.21 or its code family, from the CMS ICD-10-CM tabular instructional notes. Tabular-note edges are stored at the code family level that carries each note.

Referenced by 2 Excludes2 notes across 2 chapters: M23 — Internal derangement of knee (via S83.-), S86 — Injury of muscle, fascia and tendon at lower leg level (via S83.-).

These codes’ tabular lists name this diagnosis as distinct — both may be reported when both are documented.

Related Codes

Same Index main term, other category

The ICD-10-CM Index to Diseases and Injuries files this code under the main term “Tear, torn”; these codes share that main term but sit in a different category of the Tabular List.

M75.10 — Unspecified rotator cuff tear or rupture, not specified as traumatic (rotator cuff), M75.11 — Incomplete rotator cuff tear or rupture not specified as traumatic (rotator cuff, incomplete), M75.12 — Complete rotator cuff tear or rupture not specified as traumatic (rotator cuff, complete), N88.1 — Old laceration of cervix uteri (cervix, old), O08.6 — Damage to pelvic organs and tissues following an ectopic and molar pregnancy (bowel, with ectopic or molar pregnancy), O69.89 — Labor and delivery complicated by other cord complications (umbilical cord, complicating delivery), O70.0 — First degree perineal laceration during delivery (vulva, complicating delivery), O70.1 — Second degree perineal laceration during delivery (pelvic, floor, complicating delivery), O70.20 — Third degree perineal laceration during delivery, unspecified (anus, anal, complicating delivery, with third degree perineal laceration), O70.3 — Fourth degree perineal laceration during delivery (anus, anal, complicating delivery, with third degree perineal laceration, with mucosa), O70.4 — Anal sphincter tear complicating delivery, not associated with third degree laceration (anus, anal, complicating delivery, without third degree perineal laceration), O71.3 — Obstetric laceration of cervix (cervix, obstetrical trauma), O71.5 — Other obstetric injury to pelvic organs (bladder, obstetrical), O71.6 — Obstetric damage to pelvic joints and ligaments (broad ligament, obstetrical trauma), O71.82 — Other specified trauma to perineum and vulva (periurethral tissue, obstetrical trauma), O90.1 — Disruption of perineal obstetric wound (perineal, secondary), P10.4 — Tentorial tear due to birth injury (tentorial, at birth), S31.831 — Laceration without foreign body of anus (anus, anal), S43.42 — Sprain of rotator cuff capsule (rotator cuff, traumatic, capsule), S46.01 — Strain of muscle(s) and tendon(s) of the rotator cuff of shoulder (rotator cuff, traumatic), +4 more

Contextual Map

Every relationship of S83.21 in one view: hierarchy, official tabular instructions in both directions, clinical classification, risk adjustment, MS-DRG participation, index terms and change history — each edge carrying the CMS source it derives from.

Run S83.21 with these 2 related codes in Claim Check

Hierarchy

• S00-T88 — Chapter 19: Injury, Poisoning and Certain Other Consequences of External Causes (S00-T88) (S00-T88)[Hierarchy]— CMS ICD-10-CM tabular structure · icd10cm-fy2026

Referenced by Excludes2 notes

• M23 — Internal derangement of knee[Excludes2](via S83.-): “current injury - see injury of knee and lower leg (S80-S89)”— CMS ICD-10-CM tabular instructional notes · icd10cm-fy2026
• S86 — Injury of muscle, fascia and tendon at lower leg level[Excludes2](via S83.-): “sprain of joints and ligaments of knee (S83.-)”— CMS ICD-10-CM tabular instructional notes · icd10cm-fy2026

Nearest codes (40)

• S83 — Dislocation and sprain of joints and ligaments of knee[Sibling]— CMS ICD-10-CM tabular structure · icd10cm-fy2026
• S83.204 — Other tear of unspecified meniscus, current injury, left knee[Sibling]— CMS ICD-10-CM tabular structure · icd10cm-fy2026
• S83.204A — Other tear of unspecified meniscus, current injury, left knee, initial encounter[Sibling]— CMS ICD-10-CM tabular structure · icd10cm-fy2026
• S83.204D — Other tear of unspecified meniscus, current injury, left knee, subsequent encounter[Sibling]— CMS ICD-10-CM tabular structure · icd10cm-fy2026
• S83.204S — Other tear of unspecified meniscus, current injury, left knee, sequela[Sibling]— CMS ICD-10-CM tabular structure · icd10cm-fy2026
• S83.205 — Other tear of unspecified meniscus, current injury, unspecified knee[Sibling]— CMS ICD-10-CM tabular structure · icd10cm-fy2026
• S83.205A — Other tear of unspecified meniscus, current injury, unspecified knee, initial encounter[Sibling]— CMS ICD-10-CM tabular structure · icd10cm-fy2026
• S83.205D — Other tear of unspecified meniscus, current injury, unspecified knee, subsequent encounter[Sibling]— CMS ICD-10-CM tabular structure · icd10cm-fy2026
• and 32 more

Change history

• FY2016 — In the code set at ICD-10-CM adoption [Change history]— CMS release files (code change ledger) · icd10cm-fy2016

Common coding questions

Sources for this page

Codes, titles, notes, index terms and mappings on this page are transcribed from the datasets below. Relationships MedCoder computed and text MedCoder wrote are labelled where they appear.

Code, title, tabular notes and index terms Official source data

CMS/CDC ICD-10-CM FY2026 tabular list, index and tables, effective October 1, 2025 Release, file and checksum · Publisher’s page

Claim edits Official source data

CMS Definitions of Medicare Code Edits — v43.1 (April 2026) Release, file and checksum · Publisher’s page

Change history and date-of-service validity Official source data

CMS ICD-10-CM release addenda, ingested release by release into the change ledger Release, file and checksum · Publisher’s page

Comparisons, relationships and the contextual map MedCoder structured relationship

Computed by MedCoder from the tabular notes and tables above; every derived relationship is marked as derived where it appears

Summary and FAQ answers MedCoder explanation

Written by MedCoder to explain the sources above: drafted with AI assistance, checked by a person against the release files, and labelled as MedCoder text where it appears. Not official text.

Labels on this page: Official source data · MedCoder structured relationship · MedCoder explanation. How to read the labels · All data sources and release dates

Nearest Codes in This Family

Official ICD-10-CM classifications closest to S83.21 in its code family, with their registry titles.

• S83.207S — Unspecified tear of unspecified meniscus, current injury, left knee, sequela
• S83.209 — Unspecified tear of unspecified meniscus, current injury, unspecified knee
• S83.209A — Unspecified tear of unspecified meniscus, current injury, unspecified knee, initial encounter
• S83.209D — Unspecified tear of unspecified meniscus, current injury, unspecified knee, subsequent encounter
• S83.209S — Unspecified tear of unspecified meniscus, current injury, unspecified knee, sequela
• S83.211 — Bucket-handle tear of medial meniscus, current injury, right knee
• S83.211A — Bucket-handle tear of medial meniscus, current injury, right knee, initial encounter
• S83.211D — Bucket-handle tear of medial meniscus, current injury, right knee, subsequent encounter
• S83.211S — Bucket-handle tear of medial meniscus, current injury, right knee, sequela
• S83.212 — Bucket-handle tear of medial meniscus, current injury, left knee

View all codes in the S83 family