M17.12 — Unilateral primary osteoarthritis, left knee
M17.12

What this code means
Primary osteoarthritis of the left knee: cartilage wear causing pain and stiffness in the knee.
Also called: left knee osteoarthritis.
When this code is used
Used for unilateral primary osteoarthritis, left knee.
Where it sits in ICD-10-CM
Code M17.12 belongs to Chapter 13: Diseases of the musculoskeletal system and connective tissue, which covers codes M00–M99 in the FY2027 ICD-10-CM tabular list. The official description above is copied verbatim from the CDC/NCHS FY2027 code file.
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Frequently asked questions
What is ICD-10-CM code M17.12?
M17.12 is the ICD-10-CM diagnosis code for “Unilateral primary osteoarthritis, left knee”. Primary osteoarthritis of the left knee: cartilage wear causing pain and stiffness in the knee.
When is code M17.12 used?
Used for unilateral primary osteoarthritis, left knee. It belongs to Chapter 13 of ICD-10-CM (Diseases of the musculoskeletal system and connective tissue).
This guide explains ICD-10-CM codes in plain language for patients, students and other readers. It is educational information only — not coding, billing or medical advice. The code recorded for any real encounter is assigned from the full clinical documentation by the treating team and qualified coders, and only they can decide which code fits a specific case.