Complete oblique atypical femoral fracture, left leg, 7thG

This code signifies a complete fracture of the femur that runs obliquely, is considered atypical in nature, and is located in the left leg. The "atypical" designation implies a fracture that doesn't follow typical trauma patterns, often associated with long-term bisphosphonate use. This specific encounter is for a fracture that is not healing at the expected rate.

Apply this code when a patient presents for follow-up care of a previously diagnosed complete oblique atypical femoral fracture of the left leg, and the physician's documentation explicitly states delayed healing. This code is appropriate for subsequent encounters after the initial treatment, where the focus is on managing the slow or impaired healing process. Documentation should clearly indicate the left leg and the atypical nature of the fracture.

• Ensure documentation specifies "delayed healing" for this subsequent encounter. If the healing is normal, a different subsequent encounter code would be used.
• Verify the laterality (left leg) is clearly documented.
• Distinguish from nonunion or malunion; delayed healing is a stage preceding those more severe complications.