Stress fracture, unspecified femur, sequela

This code signifies a stress fracture of an unspecified femur that has resulted in a long-term complication or condition. It indicates that the acute phase of the stress fracture has passed, and the patient is now experiencing a residual effect directly attributable to the original injury. This could include chronic pain, nonunion, malunion, or persistent functional limitation.

Use this code when documentation clearly indicates a patient is presenting for treatment of a sequela (late effect) of a previously sustained stress fracture of the femur, where the specific side (left or right) is not documented. This code is appropriate for follow-up care, rehabilitation, or management of chronic issues arising from the original fracture. Supporting documentation should explicitly link the current condition to the prior stress fracture.

• Always sequence the sequela code first, followed by any codes for the specific manifestation of the sequela (e.g., chronic pain, nonunion).
• Ensure the medical record specifies "sequela" or "late effect" and clearly links the current condition to a past stress fracture of the femur.
• Avoid using this code for acute or subacute stress fractures; those require codes from the M84.35- series without the "S" seventh character.