Oth fracture of unsp metacarpal bone, subs for fx w nonunion

This code indicates a fracture of any metacarpal bone, excluding the thumb, that has not healed properly and is being treated during a subsequent encounter. Nonunion signifies that the bone fragments have failed to unite after the expected healing period, requiring further medical intervention.

Use this code when a patient presents for follow-up care of a previously diagnosed metacarpal fracture (excluding the thumb) that has been complicated by nonunion. This applies to ongoing treatment, such as surgical revision, bone grafting, or prolonged immobilization, aimed at achieving bone healing.

• Requires an external cause code (V00-Y99) to describe the circumstances of the injury.
• The 7th character "K" specifies a subsequent encounter for a fracture with nonunion.
• Ensure documentation clearly states "nonunion" and identifies the specific metacarpal bone if known, otherwise "unspecified" is appropriate.