FY2027
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Excludes1 pair

Q68.2 vs Q74.1

Q68.2 and Q74.1 are not coded together. ICD-10-CM declares them mutually exclusive with an Excludes1 note — the two conditions are not expected to occur together, so exactly one of them is normally correct for a given encounter. The Official Guidelines carve out one exception: if the two conditions are clearly unrelated to each other, both may be reported.

The official note, declared on Q74.1
congenital dislocation of knee (Q68.2)
Q68.2

Congenital deformity of knee

Billable
Chapter 17
Congenital malformations, deformations, chromosomal abnormalities, and genetic disorders
Section
Q65-Q79
Use when the record says
  • Congenital dislocation of knee
  • Congenital genu recurvatum
Indexed under
  • Deformity › knee NEC › congenital
  • Dislocation › knee › congenital
  • Genu › recurvatum › congenital
Q74.1

Congenital malformation of knee

Billable
Chapter 17
Congenital malformations, deformations, chromosomal abnormalities, and genetic disorders
Section
Q65-Q79
Use when the record says
  • Congenital absence of patella
  • Congenital dislocation of patella
  • Congenital genu valgum
  • Congenital genu varum
  • Rudimentary patella
Indexed under
  • Absence › patella, congenital
  • Agenesis › patella
  • Anomaly, anomalous › knee
  • Anomaly, anomalous › patella
  • Bifid › patella

Excludes1 is not always absolute: where two conditions covered by the note are genuinely unrelated, CMS guidance permits reporting both. Document the reasoning rather than assuming it. More on Excludes1 vs Excludes2 · FY2027