Pathological fracture, left hand, subs for fx w malunion

This code signifies a fracture of the left hand that occurred due to an underlying disease process (pathological), rather than trauma. It specifically indicates that the patient is in a healing phase following the initial treatment, but the fracture has healed incorrectly, resulting in a malunion.

Apply this code when documentation clearly states a pathological fracture of the left hand with evidence of malunion, and the patient is receiving ongoing care for this specific complication. This is appropriate for follow-up visits, rehabilitation, or further surgical intervention addressing the malunion. Documentation should specify "pathological fracture," "left hand," and "malunion," along with the "subsequent encounter" status.

• Ensure documentation explicitly states "pathological fracture" and not just a simple fracture.
• Verify the laterality (left hand) is clearly documented.
• Confirm the "subsequent encounter" status; this code is not for the initial treatment of the fracture.