Pathological fracture, left ankle, subs for fx w nonunion

This code signifies a fracture of the left ankle that occurred due to an underlying disease process, rather than trauma. It specifically indicates that the fracture has not healed as expected and the patient is receiving ongoing treatment for this nonunion.

Apply this code when documentation confirms a pathological fracture of the left ankle and the patient is being treated for a nonunion. This is appropriate for follow-up visits, cast changes, or other ongoing management related to the unhealed fracture. Ensure the encounter is not for the initial treatment or for a healed fracture.

• Requires documentation of "pathological fracture" and "nonunion" of the left ankle.
• The "K" seventh character indicates a subsequent encounter for a fracture with nonunion.
• Always sequence the underlying disease causing the pathological fracture first, if known and actively treated.