Breaking it down: fracture extensions

on December 22nd, 2011   by IOD Incorporated

Most categories in the Injury chapter of ICD-10-CM have a required 7th digit character extension.  Most fractures have the following extensions:

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

 A and B (initial)- used while the patient is receiving active treatment for the injury.  Includes: Surgical treatment, ER encounter, Evaluation and treatment by a new physician.

D, G, K and P (subsequent) - used for encounters AFTER the patient has received active treatment of the injury and is receiving routing care for the injury during the healing or recovery phase.  Includes:  Cast change or removal, Removal of internal/external fixation device, medication adjustment, other aftercare and follow up visits following injury treatment.

S-  used for complications or conditions that arise as a direct result of an injury.  Includes:  Scar formation after a burn.  The ‘S’ is only added to the injury code, not the sequela code.  The specific type of sequela is sequenced first, followed by the injury code.