Stress fracture, unsp foot, subs for fx w nonunion

This code signifies a stress fracture located in an unspecified bone of the foot that has failed to heal properly, indicating a nonunion. The patient is in the healing phase of this fracture, receiving active treatment for the nonunion.

Apply this code when documentation confirms a stress fracture of the foot that has not united, and the patient is undergoing follow-up care or treatment for this specific complication. This typically applies to encounters after the initial treatment of the fracture, where nonunion is the primary focus.

• Ensure documentation explicitly states "nonunion" of the stress fracture and specifies the foot as the location.
• Do not use this code for initial encounters or for fractures that are healing normally.
• Always sequence this code after any associated external cause codes, if applicable, and consider additional codes for complications or specific treatments.