Stress fracture, unspecified ankle, sequela

This code signifies a stress fracture of an unspecified ankle that is no longer in its acute phase but is causing ongoing problems or complications. It indicates a long-term effect or residual condition resulting from a previously healed or resolved stress fracture.

Use this code when documentation clearly indicates a patient is experiencing a sequela (e.g., chronic pain, deformity, limited range of motion) directly attributable to a past stress fracture of an ankle, where the specific ankle (right or left) is not documented. This code is appropriate for follow-up visits addressing these long-term effects, not for the initial treatment of the acute fracture.

• Ensure documentation explicitly states the condition is a "sequela" or describes chronic issues stemming from a resolved stress fracture.
• Avoid using this code for active, acute, or healing stress fractures; those require codes from the M84.37- series without the "S" seventh character.
• Always attempt to clarify the specific ankle (right or left) with the provider to use a more specific code (M84.371S or M84.372S) if possible.