Barton's fx left radius, subs for clos fx w malunion

This code signifies a specific type of distal radius fracture, a Barton's fracture, affecting the left arm. The fracture is no longer in the initial healing phase but is being treated for a complication where the bone fragments have healed in an unsatisfactory position, leading to deformity or functional impairment.

This code is appropriate for follow-up visits or ongoing treatment for a patient with a previously diagnosed left Barton's fracture that has healed incorrectly. It indicates that the malunion is the primary focus of the current encounter, such as for evaluation, physical therapy, or planning corrective surgery.

• Always confirm the laterality (left) and the specific fracture type (Barton's) from the medical record.
• Ensure the documentation clearly states "malunion" and that the encounter is for subsequent care, not initial treatment.
• Do not use this code for nonunion, which has a separate and distinct code.