Pathological fracture, unsp hand, subs for fx w nonunion

This code signifies a bone fracture in an unspecified hand that occurred due to an underlying disease process, rather than trauma. The fracture has failed to heal properly, resulting in a nonunion, and the patient is presenting for follow-up care or treatment related to this unhealed fracture.

Apply this code for patients presenting for ongoing management of a pathological fracture of the hand where the fracture has not united. Documentation should clearly state "pathological fracture," specify the hand (even if unspecified as in this code), and explicitly mention "nonunion" during a subsequent encounter.

• Ensure documentation specifies "pathological" to differentiate from traumatic fractures.
• Confirm the encounter is for subsequent care of the nonunion, not initial treatment.
• Always code the underlying disease causing the pathological fracture first, if known and still active.