Central dislocation of left hip, initial encounter

This code signifies a central dislocation of the left hip joint, meaning the femoral head has been driven medially through the acetabulum into the pelvis. This type of injury often involves a fracture of the acetabulum and can be associated with significant trauma. It represents the initial presentation and active treatment phase of this specific injury.

Use this code for a patient presenting with a newly diagnosed central dislocation of the left hip, such as following a high-impact motor vehicle accident or a fall from a significant height. It is appropriate when the patient is receiving initial surgical or non-surgical management for the dislocation. This code should be assigned during the period of active treatment.

• Verify laterality (left hip) and the specific type of dislocation (central).
• Ensure this is the initial encounter for this specific injury; subsequent encounters will require a different seventh character.
• Look for documentation of associated acetabular fractures, which should be coded separately.