Unsp occipital condyle fracture, subs for fx w nonunion

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 is not documented. The "K" seventh character indicates that the patient is receiving active treatment for a fracture that has failed to heal properly (nonunion).

Apply this code when a patient presents for ongoing management of an occipital condyle fracture that has not united, and the initial fracture type was not specified. Documentation should clearly state "nonunion" and that the patient is in the "subsequent encounter" phase of care, receiving treatment such as bone grafting, internal fixation, or electrical stimulation.

• Ensure documentation explicitly states "unspecified" or lacks detail regarding the specific type of occipital condyle fracture.
• Confirm the "K" seventh character is appropriate for nonunion and not for routine follow-up (P, Q, R) or malunion (M, N).
• Always sequence this code after any associated external cause codes, if applicable, to provide a complete picture of the injury.