Displaced transverse fracture of unsp patella, init

This code signifies a break across the patella (kneecap) that has resulted in the bone fragments being out of alignment. The specific side (left or right) of the patella is not documented. This is the initial treatment for a fracture where the skin remains intact.

This code is appropriate for the initial encounter of a patient presenting with a patellar fracture where imaging confirms a transverse pattern and displacement, but the laterality of the injury is not specified in the medical record. It is used when the fracture is closed, meaning there is no open wound communicating with the fracture site.

• Ensure documentation clearly states "transverse" and "displaced" for the patellar fracture.
• Only use this code for the initial treatment phase of a closed fracture. Subsequent encounters will require a different seventh character.
• Avoid this code if the laterality (left or right patella) is specified in the medical record; a more specific code should be chosen.