Other fracture of occiput, right side, init

This code signifies a fracture of the occipital bone, specifically on the right side, that is not further specified as a basilar skull fracture or other more precise occipital fracture type. It indicates that the skin overlying the fracture remains intact, without an open wound communicating with the fracture site. This is the initial encounter for treatment of this injury.

Apply this code for a patient presenting for the first time with a newly diagnosed, non-basilar, closed fracture of the right occipital bone. Documentation should clearly state the location (occiput, right side), the closed nature of the fracture, and that this is the initial treatment episode. This code is appropriate for emergency department visits, initial hospital admissions, or the first outpatient visit for this specific injury.

• Ensure documentation specifies "right side" of the occiput; otherwise, an unspecified laterality code may be more appropriate.
• Verify the fracture is explicitly documented as "closed" to avoid miscoding with open fractures.
• Confirm this is the initial encounter for treatment; subsequent care would require a different encounter character.