Pathological fracture, unsp hand, subs for fx w routn heal

This code signifies a bone fracture in an unspecified hand that occurred due to an underlying disease process, rather than trauma. The "D" seventh character indicates that the patient is in the healing phase, and the fracture is progressing as expected without complications. This typically implies follow-up care after initial treatment.

Apply this code for follow-up encounters when a patient is recovering from a pathological fracture of the hand, and the healing is considered routine. Documentation should clearly state "pathological fracture," specify "hand" (without further detail on specific bones), and indicate a "subsequent encounter" with "routine healing."

• Ensure documentation explicitly states the fracture is "pathological" and not traumatic.
• The "D" seventh character is for subsequent encounters with routine healing; use "A" for initial encounters and "G," "K," "P," or "S" for other subsequent encounter types or complications.
• If a specific bone in the hand is documented (e.g., metacarpal, phalanx), a more specific code from the M84.44- series should be used.