Unsp occipital condyle fracture, subs for fx w routn heal

This code signifies a fracture of the occipital condyle, the bony prominences at the base of the skull that articulate with the first cervical vertebra, where the specific type of fracture (e.g., avulsion, comminuted) is not documented. The "D" seventh character indicates that the patient is in the healing phase and receiving routine follow-up care for the injury.

Apply this code for patients presenting for follow-up appointments, cast changes, or routine monitoring of an occipital condyle fracture that is healing without complications. Documentation should explicitly state "unspecified occipital condyle fracture" and indicate a "subsequent encounter" for routine healing.

• Ensure the documentation specifies "unspecified" if the fracture type is not detailed; otherwise, a more specific code should be used.
• Confirm the "D" seventh character is appropriate for routine healing; "A" is for initial encounters, and "S" is for sequelae.
• Do not use this code if the fracture is experiencing delayed healing, nonunion, or malunion, as different seventh characters or codes would apply.