Displaced bicondylar fracture of unspecified tibia, sequela

This diagnosis code signifies a past injury involving a fracture of both condyles (the rounded ends) of the tibia, which was displaced at the time of the original injury. The specific side (left or right) of the tibia is not documented. The "sequela" designation indicates that this code is used for conditions or complications that are residual effects of the original fracture, long after the acute phase of healing.

This code is appropriate when a patient presents with ongoing problems directly attributable to a previously sustained, displaced bicondylar tibial fracture. Examples include chronic pain, stiffness, nonunion, malunion, or degenerative arthritis occurring as a direct result of the old injury. It should be used for follow-up care related to these long-term consequences, not for the initial treatment of the acute fracture.

• Always ensure documentation clearly links the current condition to the past bicondylar tibial fracture.
• Verify that the fracture was explicitly described as "displaced" in the original injury notes.
• Do not use this code for acute or subacute fracture care; it is strictly for sequelae.