Displ seg fx shaft of rad, unsp arm, 7thM

This code describes a specific type of broken bone in the forearm, where the shaft of the radius bone has fractured in at least two places, creating a segment of bone that is no longer aligned. The fracture is open, meaning the skin was broken, and is classified as Type I or II according to the Gustilo-Anderson classification. Critically, the bone has failed to heal properly after initial treatment, leading to a nonunion.

Use this code for a patient presenting for ongoing management of a previously treated, but unhealed, open segmental fracture of the radial shaft. This applies when the initial injury involved a low-energy open fracture (Type I or II) and the current encounter focuses on addressing the nonunion. This code would be appropriate for follow-up visits, surgical interventions for nonunion, or evaluation of the nonunion status.

• Ensure documentation clearly specifies "segmental" fracture and "nonunion" for the shaft of the radius.
• Verify the open fracture was initially classified as Type I or II; higher Gustilo-Anderson types have different codes.
• Confirm this is a "subsequent encounter" for the nonunion, not the initial treatment of the fracture.