Fatigue fracture of vertebra, cervical region, sqla

This code signifies a stress fracture of a cervical vertebra that has occurred as a long-term consequence or complication of a previously sustained fracture. It indicates that the current fatigue fracture is directly attributable to the prior vertebral injury, rather than a new, unrelated event.

Use this code when documentation clearly states a fatigue fracture of a cervical vertebra and explicitly links it as a sequela of an earlier fracture. This is appropriate for chronic conditions or late effects where the original fracture has healed but has predisposed the bone to a subsequent stress fracture.

• Ensure the documentation specifies "fatigue fracture" or "stress fracture" and explicitly links it to a previous fracture.
• The "S" seventh character indicates sequela, meaning the initial injury has healed, but its effects are still present. Do not use for acute fractures.
• Code the underlying cause of the initial fracture if known and relevant, following sequencing guidelines for sequela.