Sltr-haris Type II physl fx lower end humer, unsp arm, init

This diagnosis code describes a specific type of growth plate fracture affecting the lower part of the humerus (upper arm bone) in a child or adolescent. A Salter-Harris Type II fracture involves a break through the growth plate and extends into the metaphysis, the wider part of the bone shaft adjacent to the growth plate. This particular code indicates the injury is to an unspecified arm and is the initial treatment encounter for a fracture that has not broken through the skin.

This code is appropriate for documenting the initial diagnosis and treatment of a pediatric patient presenting with a closed Salter-Harris Type II fracture of the distal humerus, where the specific arm (left or right) is not documented or is unknown. It would be used for the first visit related to this injury, such as in an emergency department or initial orthopedic consultation.

• Ensure documentation specifies "closed" fracture; otherwise, a different code for an open fracture would be required.
• Verify the encounter is truly "initial"; subsequent care would require a different seventh character.
• If the specific arm (left or right) is documented, a more specific code should be chosen.