Displ oblique fx shaft of l ulna, 7thC

This code signifies a fracture of the shaft of the left ulna that runs obliquely (at an angle) and where the bone fragments are no longer in their normal anatomical alignment. Importantly, this is an open fracture, meaning the bone has broken through the skin, and it is classified as a severe open fracture (Type IIIA, IIIB, or IIIC) according to the Gustilo-Anderson classification. This code is used for the initial treatment of such an injury.

This code is appropriate for documenting the initial encounter for a patient presenting with a newly diagnosed, displaced, oblique fracture of the left ulnar shaft that has broken through the skin. It should be used when the open fracture is specifically documented by the treating physician as Gustilo-Anderson Type IIIA, IIIB, or IIIC. This code would be assigned for the emergency department visit, initial surgical repair, or first inpatient admission for this specific injury.

• Always verify the laterality (left ulna) and the specific fracture type (oblique, displaced, shaft) from the clinical documentation.
• Ensure the documentation clearly specifies an "open fracture" and the Gustilo-Anderson classification (IIIA, IIIB, or IIIC) for accurate code assignment.
• Remember the "C" seventh character indicates an "initial encounter" for this specific injury; subsequent care would require a different seventh character.