3-part fracture of surgical neck of left humerus, sequela

This code signifies a chronic or late effect of a previous fracture involving the surgical neck of the left humerus, where the bone was broken into three distinct pieces. This type of fracture is located just below the humeral head, a common site for upper arm breaks. The "sequela" designation indicates that the current encounter addresses a complication or residual condition directly resulting from the original injury, rather than the acute fracture itself.

Use this code when documenting conditions such as malunion, nonunion, chronic pain, arthritis, or limited range of motion in the left shoulder that are directly attributable to a previously sustained 3-part surgical neck fracture of the left humerus. This code is appropriate for follow-up visits long after the initial healing phase, or when a new problem arises as a direct consequence of the old injury.

• Always sequence the sequela code first, followed by any additional codes identifying the specific complication (e.g., M19.912 for post-traumatic osteoarthritis).
• Ensure documentation clearly links the current condition to the previous 3-part surgical neck fracture of the left humerus.
• Do not use this code for the initial treatment of an acute fracture; use the appropriate acute fracture code with the correct encounter type.