Displaced transverse fracture of shaft of unsp radius, init

This code signifies a break in the middle section (shaft) of the radius bone in the forearm, where the bone fragments are no longer in their normal alignment. The specific side (left or right) of the radius is not documented. This diagnosis is for the initial treatment of a fracture that has not broken through the skin.

This code is appropriate for the initial encounter when a patient presents with a closed, displaced fracture of the radial shaft, and the medical record does not specify whether it's the left or right arm. This would be used for the acute treatment phase, such as casting, splinting, or surgical reduction.

• Ensure documentation explicitly states "displaced" and "transverse" for accurate coding.
• Verify that the encounter is for the initial treatment of the fracture. Subsequent care will require a different seventh character.
• If the laterality (left or right) is documented, a more specific code should be selected.