M23.4: Loose body in knee
You have one or more loose bodies in your knee joint.
The knee joint connects the thighbone (femur) to the lower leg. The kneecap is also part of the knee joint. There are 2 bones in the lower leg. These bones are called the tibia (shinbone) and fibula. There is also a joint immediately below the knee joint between the tibia and fibula.
In a joint, two or more bones come together. The bones are coated with a protective layer of cartilage. And joints are also encased in a capsule made of connective tissue. Inside the capsule there is always some fluid in the joint. It can happen, for various reasons, that a piece of bone, cartilage or connective tissue becomes detached. This piece can then move freely in the fluid in the joint. Reasons may include, for example, injuries or inflammation of the joint. After an operation, suture material may become detached so that it moves freely within the fluid in the joint. When something is moving freely within the joint, it is known as a loose body.
If loose bodies get jammed in the joint, it can cause pain. It may also no longer be possible to move the joint properly. The joint may then swell up.
Additional indicator
On medical documents, the ICD code is often appended by letters that indicate the diagnostic certainty or the affected side of the body.
- G: Confirmed diagnosis
- V: Tentative diagnosis
- Z: Condition after
- A: Excluded diagnosis
- L: Left
- R: Right
- B: Both sides
Further information
Note
This information is not intended for self-diagnosis and does not replace professional medical advice from a doctor. If you find an ICD code on a personal medical document, please also note the additional indicator used for diagnostic confidence.Your doctor will assist you with any health-related questions and explain the ICD diagnosis code to you in a direct consultation if necessary.
Source
Provided by the non-profit organization “Was hab’ ich?” gemeinnützige GmbH on behalf of the Federal Ministry of Health (BMG).