Osteoarthritis (OA) is a joint inflammation that results from cartilage degeneration. Degeneration occurs due to rubbing of the joint surfaces, causing a wearing away of the tissues. Osteoarthritis (also known as degenerative arthritis, degenerative joint disease, and osteoarthrosis) is the most common type of arthritis which usually occurs in the hands, knees, hips, and spine.
Osteoarthritis of most sites, except the spine, is assigned to ICD-9-CM category Osteoarthrosis and allied disorders (715). Osteoarthritis of the spine is assigned to category Spondylosis and allied disorders (721). The specific code assignment depends on the site of the spine involved (example cervical, thoracic, lumbar) and if myelopathy is present. In category 715, the fourth-digit code assignment identifies whether the osteoarthritis is generalized or localized and the fifth-digit code assignment identifies the specific site involved.
Generalized osteoarthritis (code 715.0x) affects many joints, while localized osteoarthritis affects the joints of one site.
Localized osteoarthritis can be further broken down into two other categories:
- Primary osteoarthritis (715.1x), is localized osteoarthritis not resulting from injury or disease, is mostly a result of natural aging of the joint.
- Secondary osteoarthritis (715.2x) is due to another disease or condition. Conditions that can lead to secondary osteoarthritis include obesity, repeated trauma or surgery to the joint structures, gout, diabetes, and other hormone disorders.
If the localized osteoarthritis is not specified as primary or secondary, code 715.3x is assigned. Bilateral involvement of the same site is still considered localized and is included in the fifth digit for the site. Code 715.9x is assigned when it is not specified as generalized or localized.
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