Pathological fracture, right hand, init encntr for fracture

This code signifies a fracture of the right hand that occurred due to an underlying disease process, rather than significant trauma. It indicates that the bone was weakened by a condition such as osteoporosis, metastatic cancer, or osteogenesis imperfecta, leading to a break under minimal stress. This specific code is for the initial treatment of this pathological fracture.

Apply this code when documentation clearly states a right hand fracture is pathological, meaning it resulted from a pre-existing disease that compromised bone integrity. This is appropriate for the first encounter where the fracture is being evaluated and/or treated. Supporting documentation should include the fracture site, laterality, and the pathological nature of the break.

• Ensure documentation explicitly states "pathological fracture" and specifies the right hand.
• Always sequence the underlying disease causing the pathological fracture (e.g., osteoporosis, malignancy) before this code.
• Do not use this code for traumatic fractures; those require codes from the S62 category.