Atypical femoral fracture, unspecified, 7thP

This code signifies an atypical femoral fracture that has not healed correctly (malunion) and the patient is receiving ongoing treatment for this complication. Atypical femoral fractures are stress fractures that occur in the subtrochanteric region or femoral shaft, often associated with long-term bisphosphonate use. The "unspecified" nature indicates the specific location within the femur is not documented.

Use this code when a patient presents for follow-up care, rehabilitation, or further surgical intervention related to an atypical femoral fracture that has healed improperly. Documentation should clearly state "atypical femoral fracture," "malunion," and indicate a subsequent encounter for the fracture. This code is appropriate when the initial treatment phase is complete, and the focus is on managing the consequences of the fracture's poor healing.

• Ensure documentation specifies "atypical femoral fracture" and "malunion" to support this specific code.
• Distinguish from nonunion (M84.4-) where the fracture has not healed at all, versus malunion where it has healed in a deformed position.
• Always sequence this code after any codes for the underlying cause of the atypical fracture, if known and still relevant to the encounter.