Acute slipped upper femoral epiphysis, unstable, unsp hip

This code describes a sudden, non-traumatic displacement of the femoral head from the femoral neck at the growth plate in an unstable manner, where the specific hip (left or right) is not documented. It signifies an acute presentation of this condition, often requiring urgent intervention due to the instability.

Use this code when documentation clearly states an acute, non-traumatic, and unstable slipped upper femoral epiphysis (SUFE or SCFE) without specifying laterality. This typically occurs in adolescents during growth spurts and is supported by imaging findings (e.g., X-rays showing physeal widening or displacement) and clinical presentation of sudden onset hip pain and altered gait.

• Always strive for laterality (left or right hip) if documented; if not, this "unspecified hip" code is appropriate.
• Distinguish between acute, chronic, and acute-on-chronic presentations, as separate codes exist for each.
• Ensure documentation specifies "unstable" to use this particular code; stable SUFE has a different code.