Path fx in oth disease, l tibia, subs for fx w nonunion

This diagnosis code signifies a fracture of the left tibia that occurred due to an underlying disease process, not from trauma. The fracture has failed to heal properly, resulting in a nonunion, and the patient is presenting for follow-up care related to this ongoing complication.

Apply this code when documentation clearly states a pathological fracture of the left tibia with nonunion, and the patient encounter is for continued treatment or management of this specific fracture complication. This is appropriate for subsequent visits after initial treatment, where the nonunion is the primary focus.

• Ensure documentation specifies "pathological fracture" and identifies the underlying disease if known (though not coded here).
• Confirm the laterality is explicitly "left tibia" and the encounter type is "subsequent" for the fracture with nonunion.
• Do not use for initial fracture care or for fractures healing normally; reserve for documented nonunion in a subsequent encounter.