Stress fracture, unspecified ulna and radius, sequela

This code signifies a stress fracture affecting an unspecified bone of the ulna or radius, where the fracture itself is a late effect or complication of an earlier injury or condition. It indicates that the acute phase of the stress fracture has passed, and the patient is now experiencing residual problems directly attributable to that prior stress fracture.

Use this code when documentation clearly states a patient is presenting with a sequela (e.g., chronic pain, nonunion, malunion, deformity) directly resulting from a previously sustained stress fracture of the ulna or radius, and the specific bone (ulna or radius) is not further specified. This code is appropriate when the initial stress fracture is no longer active but its long-term effects are being addressed.

• Always sequence the sequela code first, followed by a code for the specific residual condition (e.g., chronic pain, nonunion).
• Ensure documentation explicitly links the current condition to a prior stress fracture of the ulna or radius, and specifies it as a "sequela" or "late effect."
• Avoid using this code for acute stress fractures; instead, use the appropriate acute stress fracture code from the M84.3- category.