Sltr-haris Type I physeal fx upper end of unsp tibia, init

This code signifies a Salter-Harris Type I fracture affecting the growth plate at the top of the shin bone (tibia) in an unspecified leg. This type of fracture involves a separation through the growth plate itself, without breaking the bone above or below it. It is considered a closed fracture, meaning the skin remains intact.

Use this code for the initial encounter when a patient presents with a newly diagnosed Salter-Harris Type I physeal fracture of the proximal tibia, and the specific side (left or right) is not documented. This is appropriate for the first time the patient is seen for this injury, before definitive treatment or follow-up care.

• Ensure documentation clearly states "Salter-Harris Type I" and "physeal fracture of upper end of tibia."
• Only use this code when the laterality (left/right) is explicitly unspecified in the medical record.
• The "A" suffix indicates an initial encounter for a closed fracture; choose appropriate subsequent encounter or open fracture suffixes as needed.