Oth intartic fx low end l rad, 7thM

This code describes a specific type of fracture affecting the lower end of the left radius, located within the joint capsule. It indicates that the initial injury was an open fracture (Type I or II) and that the bone has failed to heal properly, resulting in a nonunion. This code is used during follow-up care for this persistent healing complication.

This code is appropriate for subsequent encounters when a patient is being treated for a nonunion of an intraarticular fracture of the distal left radius, where the original injury was an open fracture. This would include situations like ongoing management, evaluation for surgical intervention to address the nonunion, or monitoring of conservative treatment for the nonunion.

• Ensure documentation clearly specifies "nonunion" as the reason for the subsequent encounter.
• Verify the original fracture was an open fracture (Type I or II) of the lower end of the left radius and was intraarticular.
• This code is for subsequent encounters only; an initial encounter for this specific nonunion would use a different code.