A 49-year-old patient has arthritis of the right and left knee with ongoing pain and swelling. The physician performed an arthrocentesis for the patient's condition. Patient was prepped and fluid withdrawn from the left knee joint. The patient tolerated the procedure well and was instructed to return for a follow up visit in one week to aspirate the right knee joint. Select the appropriate CPT and ICD-10-CM codes.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The correct CPT code for arthrocentesis of a major joint like the knee is 20610. The ICD-10-CM code M17.0 is for bilateral primary osteoarthritis of the knee, which aligns with the patient's condition. The procedure was performed on the left knee, hence the LT modifier.

A 49-Year-Old Patient Has Arthritis of the Right and Left