Chronic postrheumatic arthropathy, unspecified knee

This code describes a chronic, non-inflammatory joint disease affecting an unspecified knee, resulting from a previous episode of rheumatic fever. It signifies persistent joint damage and dysfunction, often characterized by deformities, following the acute phase of rheumatic fever. This condition is also known as Jaccoud's arthropathy, a rare sequela of rheumatic fever.

Use this code when documentation clearly indicates chronic arthropathy of the knee as a long-term complication of rheumatic fever, without specifying laterality. The patient's history should confirm a prior diagnosis of rheumatic fever and current knee joint involvement consistent with Jaccoud's arthropathy. This code is appropriate when the specific knee (right or left) is not documented.

• Requires documentation of a history of rheumatic fever and current chronic knee arthropathy.
• Do not use for acute or subacute arthropathy; this code specifies "chronic."
• If laterality is documented (right or left knee), use the more specific codes M12.061 or M12.062.