Chondromalacia patella can be initially treated using simple measures such as providing rest to the knee and avoiding physical activities. A surgery can be performed if the non-surgical treatments do not bring any relief. Recovery period or healing time for chondromalacia patella varies with different patients and is dependent on the kind of surgery done.
Other ways to treat the symptoms include:
M22. 4 - Chondromalacia patellae. ICD-10-CM.
ICD-10 Code for Chondromalacia patellae, right knee- M22. 41- Codify by AAPC.
Often called "runner's knee", chondromalacia patella is a common condition causing pain in the kneecap. The patella is covered with a layer of smooth cartilage, which normally glides across the knee when the joint is bent.
Grading System for Chondromalacia Patella Grade 2 indicates softening along with abnormal surface characteristics, likely marking the beginning of tissue damage. Grade 3 shows the thinning of the cartilage along with the active deterioration of the tissue.
A condition called patellofemoral (PF) chondrosis describes cartilage loss on the surface of the kneecap. 2 Another term for the condition is chondromalacia, and its severity is graded on a scale from one to four.
Chondromalacia patellae, also known as “runner's knee,” is a condition where the cartilage on the undersurface of the patella (kneecap) deteriorates and softens. This condition is common among young, athletic individuals, but may also occur in older adults who have arthritis of the knee.
Osteoarthritis is usually graded as different forms of chondromalacia (wearing down of the cartilage surface): Grade 1: early articular cartilage damage to the surface and softening. Grade 2: pitting and fissuring of the cartilage surface. Grade 3: articular cartilage damage with fissuring down to the bone.
A combination of an alignment problem (as above) and overuse with sports, may be the most common reason for developing chondromalacia patellae. Injury to the knee may contribute - perhaps repeated small injuries or stresses due to sports, or due to slack ligaments (hypermobile joints).
Chondromalacia patella is one of the most common causes of chronic knee pain. Chondromalacia patella results from degeneration of cartilage due to poor alignment of the kneecap (patella) as it slides over the lower end of the thighbone (femur). This process is sometimes referred to as patellofemoral syndrome.
Grade 4 – Grade 4 chondromalacia indicates that there is complete loss of cartilage with exposed subchondral bone. Grade 4 changes can be focal (involve a small area of cartilage), or it can be diffuse where it affects a large surface area.
Chondromalacia patella (knee pain) is the softening and breakdown of the tissue (cartilage) on the underside of the kneecap (patella). Pain results when the knee and the thigh bone (femur) rub together. Dull, aching pain and/or a feeling of grinding when the knee is flexed may occur.
Patella chondromalacia is some breakdown of a cartilage surface on the kneecap and it is basically a kind term for arthritis of the kneecap.
M22.42 is a valid billable ICD-10 diagnosis code for Chondromalacia patellae, left knee . It is found in the 2021 version of the ICD-10 Clinical Modification (CM) and can be used in all HIPAA-covered transactions from Oct 01, 2020 - Sep 30, 2021 .
DO NOT include the decimal point when electronically filing claims as it may be rejected. Some clearinghouses may remove it for you but to avoid having a rejected claim due to an invalid ICD-10 code, do not include the decimal point when submitting claims electronically.