Displaced fracture of unspecified tibial spine, sequela

This code signifies a long-term complication or late effect stemming from a previously displaced fracture of the tibial spine, where the specific location (medial or lateral) within the knee joint was not documented. The displacement indicates that the bone fragments were not properly aligned at the time of the initial injury.

Apply this code when documenting a patient presenting with ongoing issues, such as chronic pain, instability, or functional limitations, directly attributable to a past displaced tibial spine fracture. This is appropriate when the initial acute injury has healed, but residual problems persist, and the specific tibial spine involved was not specified in the original diagnosis.

• Requires a seventh character "S" to indicate sequela, meaning a late effect of the injury.
• Always sequence this code after the code(s) for the specific sequela being treated (e.g., chronic pain, osteoarthritis).
• Ensure documentation clearly links the current condition to the previous displaced, unspecified tibial spine fracture.