Unsp fx shaft of l fibula, 7thR

This code describes a malunion of an unspecified fracture of the shaft of the left fibula that was initially an open fracture of Gustilo-Anderson type IIIA, IIIB, or IIIC. A malunion indicates that the bone has healed, but in an anatomically incorrect or misaligned position. This code is used for subsequent encounters after the initial treatment of the fracture.

Use this code for follow-up visits where a patient is being managed for a malunion of a previously treated open fibular shaft fracture on the left side. This applies when the original fracture was a severe open fracture (Type IIIA, IIIB, or IIIC) and the current issue is the improper healing alignment. It is appropriate for ongoing assessment, rehabilitation, or planning for corrective procedures related to the malunion.

• Ensure documentation specifies "malunion" and not "nonunion" or "delayed union" as these have different codes.
• Verify the laterality (left fibula) and that the original injury was an open fracture of the specified Gustilo-Anderson types.
• This code is for subsequent encounters; an initial encounter code would have been used for the acute fracture.