Nondisp osteochon fx unsp patella, 7thC

This code describes an osteochondral fracture (involving both bone and cartilage) of the kneecap that is not displaced. The fracture is open, meaning there's a break in the skin communicating with the fracture site, and is classified as a severe open fracture type IIIA, IIIB, or IIIC according to the Gustilo-Anderson classification. This code is used for the initial treatment of such an injury.

Use this code when documenting the initial encounter for a patient presenting with an open, nondisplaced osteochondral fracture of an unspecified patella. This applies to cases where the open fracture is specifically classified by the treating physician as Gustilo-Anderson type IIIA, IIIB, or IIIC, indicating significant soft tissue damage and contamination.

• Ensure the medical record clearly specifies "nondisplaced" and "osteochondral" for the patella fracture.
• Verify the documentation explicitly states "open fracture type IIIA, IIIB, or IIIC" to support this specific code.
• This code is for the initial encounter only; subsequent care would require a different encounter character.