Displ commnt fx left patella, subs for clos fx w delay heal

This code signifies a complex fracture of the left kneecap where the bone has broken into multiple fragments and the pieces are not in their anatomical alignment. The patient is in a later stage of treatment for this injury, and the fracture is not healing at the expected rate.

This code is appropriate for follow-up encounters where a patient is being managed for a previously diagnosed displaced comminuted fracture of the left patella. It specifically applies when the fracture has not yet fully united and the healing process is prolonged. This would be used for subsequent cast changes, follow-up imaging, or physical therapy sessions related to the delayed healing.

• Ensure documentation clearly states "delayed healing" for the closed fracture.
• Verify the fracture is specifically of the left patella and is described as both "displaced" and "comminuted."
• Confirm this is a subsequent encounter, not the initial treatment for the fracture.