Stress fracture, unspecified femur, init encntr for fracture

This code signifies a stress fracture affecting an unspecified part of the femur, meaning the specific location (e.g., femoral neck, shaft) is not documented. A stress fracture is a small crack in a bone caused by repetitive stress or overuse, rather than a single traumatic event. This particular code indicates the patient is receiving initial treatment for this specific fracture.

Apply this code when a patient presents for the first time with a newly diagnosed stress fracture of the femur, and the medical record does not specify the exact anatomical site within the femur. Documentation should clearly state "stress fracture" and "femur," and indicate that this is the initial encounter for treatment of this fracture. This code is appropriate for the initial evaluation, management, and surgical repair (if applicable) of the stress fracture.

• Ensure documentation specifies "stress fracture" to differentiate from acute traumatic fractures.
• Only use this code when the specific location on the femur is not documented; otherwise, use a more specific code from the M84.35- subcategory.
• The "A" seventh character indicates an initial encounter for active treatment; subsequent encounters for routine healing or sequelae will require different seventh characters.