Unspecified fracture of upper end of left radius, sequela

This code signifies a long-term complication or late effect stemming from an unspecified fracture of the upper portion of the left radius. It indicates that the initial acute injury has healed, but the patient is now experiencing residual problems directly attributable to that past fracture. These sequelae could include chronic pain, limited range of motion, deformity, or nonunion/malunion issues.

Apply this code when documenting a patient encounter for a condition that is a direct consequence of a previous, unspecified fracture of the upper end of the left radius. This is appropriate when the initial fracture is no longer acute and the current treatment addresses the residual effects. Examples include follow-up for chronic pain after a healed fracture, or surgical intervention for a malunion.

• Always sequence the sequela code first, followed by any additional codes to specify the nature of the sequela (e.g., chronic pain, malunion).
• Ensure documentation clearly links the current condition to the previous unspecified left radial fracture.
• Do not use this code for acute fractures; instead, use the appropriate acute fracture code with the correct seventh character for the encounter.