Stress fracture, unspecified hand, sequela

This code signifies a stress fracture of an unspecified hand that is no longer in the acute phase of treatment but is still causing ongoing problems or complications. It indicates a residual effect or late complication directly resulting from a previously healed or treated stress fracture.

Apply this code when documentation clearly indicates a patient is experiencing a long-term consequence, such as chronic pain, deformity, or functional limitation, stemming from a past stress fracture of the hand. This code is appropriate for follow-up encounters addressing these persistent issues after the initial healing period has concluded.

• Always sequence this sequela code after the code for the primary condition or symptom being treated (e.g., chronic pain).
• Ensure documentation explicitly states the hand affected was unspecified if a more specific location (e.g., carpal, metacarpal) is not provided.
• Distinguish from acute stress fractures (M84.34-) which are used during the active treatment phase.