Displaced segmental fracture of shaft of left fibula, init

This diagnosis code signifies a fracture of the left fibula's shaft that has broken into at least three distinct pieces (segmental) and where the bone fragments are not properly aligned (displaced). It specifically indicates that this is the initial medical encounter for treatment of this closed fracture, meaning the skin over the fracture site is intact.

This code is appropriate for documenting the initial treatment of a patient presenting with a newly diagnosed, non-compound, segmental fracture of the shaft of their left fibula. It would be used when the patient first seeks medical attention for this specific injury, prior to any definitive treatment or follow-up care.

• Ensure documentation clearly specifies "segmental" and "displaced" for the left fibula shaft.
• Verify this is the initial encounter for treatment; subsequent encounters will require different seventh characters.
• Confirm the fracture is "closed" (skin intact) as open fractures have distinct coding.