Health Information Management

Tip: Reporting fractures of the wrist and hand in ICD-10-CM

APCs Insider, March 14, 2014

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Codes for fractures of the wrist and hand are located in the S62.- series in ICD-10-CM. This section contains two important notes. The first is that any fracture not documented as displaced or non-displaced should be coded as displaced. The second is that any fracture not documented as open or closed should be coded as closed.
 
Most of these fracture codes also require a seventh character. Coders can choose from the following
options:
 
• A, initial encounter for closed fracture
• B, initial encounter for open fracture
• D, subsequent encounter for fracture with routine healing
• G, subsequent encounter for fracture with delayed healing
• K, subsequent encounter for fracture with nonunion
• P, subsequent encounter for fracture with malunion
• S, sequela
 
For example, a patient is seen for a follow-up exam for a non-displaced fracture of the capitate on the right wrist with routine healing. Coders would report S62.134D.
 
This tip is adapted from “ICD-10 anatomy refresher: Wrists and hands” in the March issue of Briefings on APCs.



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