Displaced transverse fracture of shaft of unsp tibia, init

This diagnosis code signifies a complete break across the shaft of the tibia, the larger of the two lower leg bones, where the bone fragments are no longer in their normal alignment. The fracture location is unspecified within the transverse plane, meaning the break runs perpendicular to the long axis of the bone. This code is specifically for the initial treatment of a closed fracture, where the skin remains intact over the injury.

This code is appropriate for documenting the initial encounter for a patient presenting with a newly diagnosed transverse fracture of the tibial shaft, without an open wound. It applies when the specific side (left or right) of the tibia is not documented or is unknown at the time of coding. Use this code for the initial surgical or non-surgical management of such a fracture.

• Ensure documentation specifies "transverse" and "shaft" of the tibia, and that the fracture is "displaced."
• Only use the "A" seventh character for the initial encounter for active treatment of the fracture.
• If the laterality (left or right) is known, a more specific code should be selected.