Pathological fracture, right ankle, sequela

This code signifies a pathological fracture of the right ankle that has healed, but the patient is still experiencing residual effects or complications directly attributable to the fracture. This implies a previous fracture caused by an underlying disease process, not trauma, with ongoing long-term consequences.

Apply this code when documentation clearly indicates a healed pathological fracture of the right ankle and the patient is being treated for a sequela (e.g., chronic pain, nonunion, malunion, deformity, limited range of motion) directly resulting from that fracture. The medical record must specify the laterality (right ankle) and the pathological nature of the original fracture.

• Always sequence the sequela code first, followed by codes for the specific residual condition(s) (e.g., chronic pain, malunion).
• Ensure documentation differentiates between a current pathological fracture (active treatment) and a sequela of a healed fracture.
• Verify the original fracture was indeed pathological, not traumatic, to justify using this code category.