Fracture of left shoulder girdle, part unsp, init for opn fx

This code signifies an open fracture affecting an unspecified part of the left shoulder girdle. An open fracture means the skin and soft tissues surrounding the bone are compromised, exposing the fracture site to the external environment. This diagnosis indicates the initial treatment for such an injury.

This code is appropriate for the initial encounter when a patient presents with a left shoulder girdle fracture where the specific bone (e.g., clavicle, scapula, humerus head) is not documented, and there is an open wound communicating with the fracture. It is used when the patient is receiving active treatment for the fracture.

• Ensure documentation clearly states "left" and "open fracture" for accurate code assignment.
• Only use for the initial treatment phase; subsequent encounters will require different seventh characters.
• If the specific bone of the shoulder girdle is identified (e.g., clavicle, scapula), a more specific fracture code should be used instead.