Minnesota Rule 5223.0510
Minnesota knee PPD rating
Rule 5223.0510 rates the knee and lower leg under exclusive categories (subpart 2: plateau and distal femur fracture ladders, patellar surgeries, collateral ligament laxity, painful organic syndrome, nerve entrapment, tibial nonunion), combinable categories (subpart 3: patellectomy, meniscectomy, arthroplasty, cruciate laxity, angular deformity, osteotomy), and loss of measured motion (subpart 4). Combinable categories also take a subpart 4 rating; distinct impairing conditions combine under 5223.0300, subpart 3, item E; and the whole part is capped at 34 percent, the amputation value for the leg at the knee.
Knee replacement and other common knee ratings
A total knee arthroplasty is a combinable category under Minnesota Rule 5223.0510, subpart 3. It is not the same number as a meniscectomy, cruciate laxity, or a plateau fracture. Those sit in their own families on this page.
Combinable categories can also take a subpart 4 motion rating. Distinct conditions combine; they do not add. The whole knee part is capped at the amputation value for the leg at the knee (34 percent).
Rule text from the Minnesota Revisor of Statutes, retrieved 2026-08-02.
This is my working reading of Minnesota Rule chapter 5223. I keep checking it against the official rule text and published decisions. If a category, percent, or combination looks wrong, email hello@mncompbuddy.com and say what you found. A mismatch is a reason to look again, not a reason to treat this tool or a doctor rating as automatically correct.
The percents on this page are the condition categories. This part also rates measured motion loss under subpart 4 (24 clauses). Those numbers live in the guided calculator. A total here is not the whole rating when the records also show lost motion.
How the rule decides
Each group below is a set of alternatives: the facts select at most one category from each group. Add-ons attach to their base category as the rule directs and are added, not statutorily combined.
Choose one: knee tibial plateau
Requires: Tibial plateau fracture, by displacement and treatment: undisplaced.
R. 5223.0510, subp. 2.A(1)
Requires: Tibial plateau fracture, by displacement and treatment: depressed bone surgically elevated, medial or lateral plateau (one); and not: semilunar cartilage (meniscus) excised, partially or completely, in treating the plateau fracture.
R. 5223.0510, subp. 2.A(2)(a)
Requires: Tibial plateau fracture, by displacement and treatment: depressed bone surgically elevated, medial or lateral plateau (one); and Semilunar cartilage (meniscus) excised, partially or completely, in treating the plateau fracture.
R. 5223.0510, subp. 2.A(2)(b)
Requires: Tibial plateau fracture, by displacement and treatment: depressed bone surgically elevated, both medial and lateral plateaus; and not: semilunar cartilage (meniscus) excised, partially or completely, in treating the plateau fracture.
R. 5223.0510, subp. 2.A(3)(a)
Requires: Tibial plateau fracture, by displacement and treatment: depressed bone surgically elevated, both medial and lateral plateaus; and Semilunar cartilage (meniscus) excised, partially or completely, in treating the plateau fracture.
R. 5223.0510, subp. 2.A(3)(b)
Choose one: knee distal femur
Requires: not: the distal femur fracture is displaced; and Distal femur fracture pattern at the knee: supracondylar or intercondylar.
R. 5223.0510, subp. 2.B(1)
Requires: not: the distal femur fracture is displaced; and Distal femur fracture pattern at the knee: bicondylar.
R. 5223.0510, subp. 2.B(2)
Requires: The distal femur fracture is displaced; and Distal femur fracture pattern at the knee: supracondylar.
R. 5223.0510, subp. 2.B(3)
Requires: The distal femur fracture is displaced; and Distal femur fracture pattern at the knee: unicondylar.
R. 5223.0510, subp. 2.B(4)
Requires: The distal femur fracture is displaced; and Distal femur fracture pattern at the knee: bicondylar.
R. 5223.0510, subp. 2.B(5)
Choose one: knee patella
Requires: Patellar shaving performed.
R. 5223.0510, subp. 2.C
Requires: Surgical repair of a patellar dislocation performed.
R. 5223.0510, subp. 2.E
Requires: Lateral retinacular release performed.
R. 5223.0510, subp. 2.F
Requires: Partial or total patellectomy performed (bone removed; fixation alone does not qualify).
R. 5223.0510, subp. 3.A
Choose one: knee collateral
Requires: Residual laxity from a ruptured collateral ligament, repaired or unrepaired: mild laxity.
R. 5223.0510, subp. 2.D(1)
Requires: Residual laxity from a ruptured collateral ligament, repaired or unrepaired: moderate laxity.
R. 5223.0510, subp. 2.D(2)
Choose one: knee pain syndrome
Requires: Painful organic syndrome (as defined at 5223.0310, subp. 40), substantiated by consistent, reproducible clinical or imaging findings, with persistent limitation of active motion or deviation of gait; and not: passive range of motion of the knee is limited.
R. 5223.0510, subp. 2.G
Choose one: knee entrapment peroneal
Requires: Peroneal nerve entrapment at the knee or in the lower leg: resolved with treatment.
R. 5223.0510, subp. 2.H(1)
Requires: Peroneal nerve entrapment at the knee or in the lower leg: pain and paresthesia persist or recur despite treatment, not substantiated by electrodiagnostic testing.
R. 5223.0510, subp. 2.H(2)
Requires: Peroneal nerve entrapment at the knee or in the lower leg: pain and paresthesia persist despite treatment, substantiated by persistent findings on electrodiagnostic testing.
R. 5223.0510, subp. 2.H(3)
Choose one: knee entrapment tibial
Requires: Tibial nerve entrapment at the knee or in the lower leg: resolved with treatment.
R. 5223.0510, subp. 2.H(1)
Requires: Tibial nerve entrapment at the knee or in the lower leg: pain and paresthesia persist or recur despite treatment, not substantiated by electrodiagnostic testing.
R. 5223.0510, subp. 2.H(2)
Requires: Tibial nerve entrapment at the knee or in the lower leg: pain and paresthesia persist despite treatment, substantiated by persistent findings on electrodiagnostic testing.
R. 5223.0510, subp. 2.H(3)
Choose one: knee tibia nonunion
Requires: Nonunion of a tibia fracture requiring a nonweight-bearing orthosis for ambulation.
R. 5223.0510, subp. 2.I
Choose one: knee meniscus
Requires: Meniscectomy (excision of semilunar cartilage) in this knee, by extent: up to 50 percent of one cartilage removed.
R. 5223.0510, subp. 3.B(1)
Requires: Meniscectomy (excision of semilunar cartilage) in this knee, by extent: more than 50 percent of one cartilage removed.
R. 5223.0510, subp. 3.B(2)
Requires: Meniscectomy (excision of semilunar cartilage) in this knee, by extent: up to 50 percent of both cartilages removed.
R. 5223.0510, subp. 3.B(3)
Requires: Meniscectomy (excision of semilunar cartilage) in this knee, by extent: more than 50 percent of both cartilages removed.
R. 5223.0510, subp. 3.B(4)
Requires: Meniscectomy (excision of semilunar cartilage) in this knee, by extent: up to 50 percent of one and more than 50 percent of the other removed.
R. 5223.0510, subp. 3.B(5)
Requires: Meniscus suture repair with no cartilage removed.
R. 5223.0510, subp. 1 (rated only under subp. 4)
Choose one: knee arthroplasty
Requires: Condylar knee arthroplasty performed: unicondylar (one compartment).
R. 5223.0510, subp. 3.C(1)
Requires: Condylar knee arthroplasty performed: total condylar (medial and lateral compartments).
R. 5223.0510, subp. 3.C(2)
Choose one: knee arthroplasty patella
Requires: Patella (kneecap) component replaced, whether as patellar resurfacing during a knee replacement or as an isolated patellar replacement.
R. 5223.0510, subp. 3.C(3)
Choose one: knee acl
Requires: Anterior cruciate ligament laxity: mild: positive drawer sign, no pivot shift.
R. 5223.0510, subp. 3.D(1)(a)
Requires: Anterior cruciate ligament laxity: severe: positive drawer sign with pivot shift.
R. 5223.0510, subp. 3.D(1)(b)
Choose one: knee pcl
Requires: Posterior cruciate ligament laxity.
R. 5223.0510, subp. 3.D(2)
Choose one: knee varus
Requires: Posttraumatic varus deformity, in degrees (0 means none) of 1 degrees or more; and Posttraumatic varus deformity, in degrees (0 means none) of 5 degrees or less.
R. 5223.0510, subp. 3.E(1)
Requires: Posttraumatic varus deformity, in degrees (0 means none) of 6 degrees or more; and Posttraumatic varus deformity, in degrees (0 means none) of 15 degrees or less.
R. 5223.0510, subp. 3.E(2)
Requires: Posttraumatic varus deformity, in degrees (0 means none) above 15 degrees.
R. 5223.0510, subp. 3.E(3)
Choose one: knee valgus
Requires: Posttraumatic valgus deformity, in degrees (0 means none) of 1 degrees or more; and Posttraumatic valgus deformity, in degrees (0 means none) of 10 degrees or less.
R. 5223.0510, subp. 3.F(1)
Requires: Posttraumatic valgus deformity, in degrees (0 means none) of 11 degrees or more; and Posttraumatic valgus deformity, in degrees (0 means none) of 20 degrees or less.
R. 5223.0510, subp. 3.F(2)
Requires: Posttraumatic valgus deformity, in degrees (0 means none) above 20 degrees.
R. 5223.0510, subp. 3.F(3)
Choose one: knee osteotomy
Requires: Proximal tibial or distal femoral osteotomy performed.
R. 5223.0510, subp. 3.G/3.H
Choose one: knee fracture other
Requires: either Fracture or dislocation involving the femur, tibia, or fibula (or, for dates of injury on or after August 9, 2010, the patella) not otherwise ratable under this part, 5223.0500, or 5223.0520, or Tibial plateau fracture, by displacement and treatment: depressed but never surgically elevated.
R. 5223.0510, subp. 3.I
Choose one: knee unlisted motion loss
Requires: either A knee condition no category of subparts 2 or 3 represents, rated only on measured loss of motion under subpart 4, or Painful organic syndrome (as defined at 5223.0310, subp. 40), substantiated by consistent, reproducible clinical or imaging findings, with persistent limitation of active motion or deviation of gait; and Passive range of motion of the knee is limited.
R. 5223.0510, subp. 1 (rated only under subp. 4)
What the records must show
These are the facts the rule turns on. If one is unknown, the affected categories stay open questions with the document that would settle them; an unknown never counts as a no.
Proof: x-ray or CT report; operative report describing elevation of depressed bone
Proof: operative report
Proof: x-ray or CT report; operative report
Proof: x-ray or CT report
Proof: operative report
Proof: operative report
Proof: operative report
Proof: operative report stating bone was excised
Proof: exam notes documenting valgus/varus stress laxity; MRI or operative report of the rupture
Proof: exam notes; imaging reports
Proof: exam notes with passive range of motion measurements
Proof: EMG/nerve conduction study; exam notes
Proof: EMG/nerve conduction study; exam notes
Proof: follow-up imaging describing nonunion; orthotic prescription
Proof: operative report stating how much of each meniscus was excised
Proof: operative report
Proof: operative report
Proof: operative report
Proof: exam notes with drawer and pivot-shift findings
Proof: exam notes with posterior drawer findings
Proof: standing alignment x-ray report
Proof: standing alignment x-ray report
Proof: operative report
Proof: x-ray or CT report
Proof: diagnosis records; range of motion measurements
Worked examples with receipts
Each example runs through the same engine the calculator uses. The category total, the components, and the citations are computed, not typed in. These receipts are category percents only. They do not include subpart 4 motion.
Total knee arthroplasty, category alone (audit S1 before the motion rating)
category total
Date of injury 2024-01-01
- Condylar knee arthroplasty performed: total condylar (medial and lateral compartments)
- Total Knee Replacement: 8%
- Category total: 8%Does not include subpart 4 motion
Total condylar arthroplasty (8) with patella replacement (7), combined per Pechacek v. HealthEast
category total
Date of injury 2024-01-01
- Condylar knee arthroplasty performed: total condylar (medial and lateral compartments)
- Patella (kneecap) component replaced, whether as patellar resurfacing during a knee replacement or as an isolated patellar replacement: yes
- Total Knee Replacement: 8%
- Patellar Replacement: 7%
- Category total: 14.44%Does not include subpart 4 motion
Displaced bicondylar distal femur fracture, the audit F-01 headline path
category total
Date of injury 2024-01-01
- Distal femur fracture pattern at the knee: bicondylar
- The distal femur fracture is displaced: yes
- Displaced bicondylar: 10%
- Category total: 10%Does not include subpart 4 motion
Tibial nonunion (18) combined with a subtotal meniscectomy (3), distinct conditions (audit S5 without motion)
category total
Date of injury 2024-01-01
- Nonunion of a tibia fracture requiring a nonweight-bearing orthosis for ambulation: yes
- Meniscectomy (excision of semilunar cartilage) in this knee, by extent: more than 50 percent of one cartilage removed
- Meniscus suture repair with no cartilage removed: no
- Nonunion of Tibia Fracture Requiring Orthosis: 18%
- Subtotal/Total Meniscectomy (>50%): 3%
- Category total: 20.46%Does not include subpart 4 motion
Mixed bilateral-cartilage meniscectomy on the first day the category exists (audit S12b)
category total
Date of injury 2010-08-09
- Meniscectomy (excision of semilunar cartilage) in this knee, by extent: up to 50 percent of one and more than 50 percent of the other removed
- Meniscectomy: Both Cartilages, Mixed Bilateral: 5%
- Category total: 5%Does not include subpart 4 motion
Related rules
These cross-links come from the compiled graph. Read the official rule text for the full statutory language.
See also rule 5223.0500
Hip and upper leg permanency rule 5223.0500Subp. 3.I excludes fractures ratable under the hip part; a femur fracture is rated where the rule that most closely represents it lives.
See also rule 5223.0520
Ankle permanency rule 5223.0520Subp. 3.I excludes fractures ratable under the ankle part; a distal tibia or fibula fracture may belong there.
See also rule 5223.0420
Official text for 5223.0420Subp. 2.H(4): entrapment with objectively demonstrable motor loss rates under the motor nerve table of 5223.0420 (common and deep peroneal, superficial peroneal, tibial rows).
See also rule 5223.0430
Official text for 5223.0430Subp. 2.H(4): entrapment with objectively demonstrable sensory loss rates under the sensory nerve table of 5223.0430.
See also rule 5223.0550
Official text for 5223.0550
Common questions
Does a meniscus repair get the meniscectomy percentage?
No. Subpart 3.B pays for cartilage removed; a suture repair removes none. A symptomatic repaired meniscus is rated only on measured loss of motion under subpart 4.
What does a total knee replacement rate?
Eight percent under subpart 3.C(2), plus the measured loss of motion under subpart 4, combined. If the patella was also replaced or resurfaced, subpart 3.C(3) adds seven percent as a separate rating: in Pechacek v. HealthEast, No. WC11-5232 (W.C.C.A. Aug. 25, 2011), the court affirmed both ratings combined to 14.44 percent, reasoning that the total condylar categories cover two compartments and the patella is the third.
What if the knee was fractured and the kneecap fixed with hardware but no bone removed?
Subpart 3.A pays four percent only for partial or total patellectomy, removal of bone. A patella fracture treated with fixation alone rates zero percent under subpart 3.I (for dates of injury on or after August 9, 2010) plus the measured loss of motion.
How high can a knee rating go?
Subpart 1 caps the whole part at the amputation value for the leg at the knee: 34 percent (R. 5223.0550, subp. 1.E). Categories and motion ratings that combine past that number are reduced to it.
What about nerve damage at the knee?
Entrapment of the tibial or peroneal nerve rates zero to two percent on the subpart 2.H ladder. Once there is objectively demonstrable motor or sensory loss, the rating moves to the nerve tables of 5223.0420 and 5223.0430, where a complete common peroneal motor loss alone is 14 percent.
The rule lists no category for my fracture pattern. What happens?
Some cells are genuinely silent: an undisplaced unicondylar distal femur fracture and a displaced intercondylar fracture fit no subpart 2.B clause. Those fall to subpart 3.I at zero percent plus the measured loss of motion, or rate by analogy under 5223.0300, subpart 3, item A. This tool reports no match rather than guessing.
Interpretive notes
- Subpart 4 (loss of function) is delegated to the ROM module: a two-dimensional grid of extension and flexion limits paying up to 36 percent, plus four ankylosis positions, audited 24 of 24 clauses correct.
- Bilateral meniscectomy: subp. 3.B directs each knee rated separately and the ratings combined. This graph rates one knee per evaluation; a second knee is a second evaluation whose result combines under 5223.0300, subp. 3.E.
- The patellar categories (shaving, dislocation repair, retinacular release, patellectomy) describe one impairing condition; only the one that most closely represents the condition rates.
- Patella replacement (subp. 3.C(3)) combines with a condylar arthroplasty rating rather than merging into it: Pechacek v. HealthEast, No. WC11-5232 (W.C.C.A. Aug. 25, 2011), affirmed 8 plus 7 combined to 14.44 percent for a total knee arthroplasty with patellar resurfacing.
What to do next
Turn a category percent into dollars, combine multiple ratings, or see permanency inside a full settlement value.
- Minnesota PPD calculator
Turn a rating percentage into dollars using the statutory tier for your date of injury.
- PPD combination calculator
Two or more ratings combine with a formula that yields less than the sum.
- Settlement exposure calculator
See permanency next to wage loss and medical when you weigh a settlement.
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