Pathological fracture, left foot, subs for fx w malunion

This code signifies a fracture in the left foot that occurred due to an underlying disease process (e.g., osteoporosis, tumor), rather than trauma. It specifically indicates that the patient is in a healing phase following the fracture, but the bone is not aligning correctly, resulting in a malunion. This malunion may require further intervention.

Use this code for patients presenting for follow-up care of a left foot pathological fracture where imaging or clinical assessment confirms a malunion. Documentation should clearly state "pathological fracture," specify the "left foot," and indicate a "subsequent encounter" for a fracture with "malunion." This code is appropriate when the initial treatment for the fracture has concluded, but the bone is healing improperly.

• Ensure documentation explicitly states "pathological fracture" and the specific anatomical site (left foot).
• Verify that the encounter is for follow-up care of the fracture and not the initial treatment or a new injury.
• Distinguish between malunion (improper alignment) and nonunion (failure to heal) as these have different code assignments.