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

This code signifies a complex injury involving a broken radius bone in the forearm, specifically a segment of the shaft that is no longer properly aligned. The fracture is open, meaning the bone has broken through the skin, and is classified as a severe type (IIIA, IIIB, or IIIC). Crucially, this code indicates that the fracture has failed to heal properly after an initial treatment, and the patient is presenting for follow-up care related to this nonunion.

Use this code for a patient presenting for ongoing management of a previously treated, but unhealed, open segmental shaft fracture of the radius. This applies when the initial injury was an open fracture classified as type IIIA, IIIB, or IIIC, and the current encounter addresses the nonunion. This code would be appropriate for follow-up appointments, surgical interventions for nonunion, or evaluation of persistent symptoms related to the unhealed fracture.

• Confirm documentation specifies "nonunion" and an "open fracture type IIIA, IIIB, or IIIC" for the initial injury.
• Ensure the encounter is "subsequent" and not the initial treatment for the fracture.
• Verify the fracture is of the "shaft of radius" and "segmental" in nature.