Fatigue fracture of vertebra, lumbar region, sqla

This code signifies a stress fracture of a lumbar vertebra that has healed or is in the healing process, and the patient is now experiencing a long-term complication or residual effect directly attributable to that past fracture. This is not for an acute or current fatigue fracture, but rather the lasting impact of a previously sustained one.

Apply this code when documentation clearly indicates a patient is presenting with a sequela (e.g., chronic pain, deformity, instability) resulting from a prior fatigue fracture of a lumbar vertebra. The medical record must specify that the fracture itself is no longer acute and the current condition is a direct consequence of the old injury.

• Requires a seventh character "S" for sequela, indicating a complication or residual effect of a past condition.
• Do not use for acute or current fatigue fractures; those would typically use codes from M48.4- with an A (initial encounter) or D (subsequent encounter) seventh character.
• Always sequence this code after the code(s) for the specific sequela being treated (e.g., chronic low back pain, spinal deformity).