Unsp fx navicular bone of r wrist, subs for fx w malunion

This code describes a situation where a patient has a previously diagnosed, unspecified fracture of the scaphoid bone in their right wrist that is now healing incorrectly, resulting in a malunion. The malunion indicates that the bone fragments have united in an abnormal position, potentially leading to functional impairment.

This code is appropriate for follow-up encounters where a physician is assessing or treating a known right scaphoid fracture that has healed in a misaligned fashion. It should be used when documentation confirms the fracture is not new and the healing process has resulted in a malunion.

• Ensure documentation clearly specifies "right wrist" and "scaphoid" or "navicular bone of wrist."
• Verify that the encounter is for a subsequent visit and that malunion is explicitly documented.
• Do not use this code for initial fracture treatment or for nonunion, which is a separate condition.