A50.51

What This Code Means

Clutton's joints is a painless swelling of the knees and other large joints that occurs in children with congenital syphilis. This condition results from inflammation caused by syphilis infection passed from mother to child before birth.

Coding Tips

• •Clutton's joints is a manifestation of late congenital syphilis and should be coded with A50.51 specifically; verify documentation confirms this is congenital syphilis rather than acquired syphilis
• •This code is typically used in pediatric cases; ensure the patient age and clinical presentation align with congenital syphilis diagnosis, and consider coding the underlying congenital syphilis condition as well