Bennett's fracture, left hand, sequela

This code signifies a long-term complication or late effect stemming from a previously sustained Bennett's fracture of the left hand. A Bennett's fracture is an intra-articular fracture of the base of the first metacarpal bone, often involving dislocation of the carpometacarpal joint. "Sequela" indicates that the initial acute injury has healed, but residual issues persist.

Use this code when documenting conditions such as chronic pain, arthritis, limited range of motion, instability, or deformity in the left thumb that are directly attributable to a past Bennett's fracture. This code is appropriate when the patient is no longer in the acute or active healing phase of the original fracture, but is being treated for its lasting consequences.

• Always assign a secondary code to specify the nature of the sequela (e.g., M19.042 for primary osteoarthritis of the left thumb).
• Ensure documentation clearly links the current condition to the prior Bennett's fracture of the left hand.
• Do not use this code for initial or subsequent encounters during the active treatment of the acute fracture.