Fatigue fracture of vertebra, cervicothoracic region, init

This code signifies a stress fracture of a vertebral body located in the cervicothoracic junction (C7-T1 region) that has occurred due to repetitive stress rather than acute trauma. It indicates the patient is receiving initial active treatment for this specific fracture.

Apply this code when documentation clearly states a fatigue or stress fracture of a vertebra in the cervicothoracic region. This is appropriate for the initial encounter where the patient is undergoing diagnostic workup, definitive treatment, or surgical intervention for the fracture.

• Ensure documentation specifies "fatigue" or "stress" fracture; otherwise, a traumatic fracture code may be more appropriate.
• Verify the fracture location is precisely cervicothoracic (C7-T1) to differentiate from cervical or thoracic-specific codes.
• The "A" seventh character indicates an initial encounter for active treatment; use subsequent characters for routine follow-up or sequelae.