Other fracture of occiput, left side, 7thG

This code signifies a fracture of the left occipital bone that is currently in a phase of delayed healing. It indicates that the patient is receiving active treatment or follow-up care for this specific injury, and the healing process is not progressing as expected.

Apply this code when documentation clearly states a left occipital fracture with delayed healing, and the patient is seen for ongoing management of this condition. This is appropriate for follow-up visits where the physician assesses the healing progress and provides further treatment or recommendations for the non-union or malunion.

• Ensure documentation specifies "left side" and "delayed healing" for the occipital fracture.
• This code is for subsequent encounters; an initial encounter would use a different seventh character.
• Always sequence this code as a primary diagnosis when the delayed healing of the fracture is the primary reason for the encounter.