Path fx in oth disease, l shoulder, subs for fx w malunion

This code signifies a fracture of the left shoulder that occurred due to an underlying disease process, not from trauma. The fracture has healed improperly, resulting in a malunion, and the patient is receiving follow-up care for this complication.

Apply this code when documentation specifies a left shoulder fracture caused by a systemic condition (e.g., osteoporosis, metastatic cancer) that has healed in a misaligned position. This code is appropriate for subsequent encounters where the patient is being treated for the malunion, such as for corrective surgery planning or monitoring.

• Requires documentation of both the underlying disease causing the pathological fracture and the malunion.
• Distinguish from nonunion (M84.4-) or routine follow-up for a healed fracture (Z-codes).
• Always sequence the underlying disease code first, followed by this code.