Displaced intartic fracture of l calcaneus, init for opn fx

This code signifies a fracture within the joint space of the heel bone (calcaneus) on the left foot, where the bone fragments are no longer in their normal anatomical alignment. It specifically indicates that the skin and soft tissue overlying the fracture have been broken, exposing the bone to the external environment. This is the initial encounter for treatment of this specific injury.

Apply this code for a patient presenting with a newly diagnosed, open, intraarticular fracture of the left calcaneus. This would be used when the patient is receiving active treatment, such as surgical repair or initial casting, for this specific injury. It is appropriate for the initial hospital admission or outpatient visit for definitive management.

• Ensure documentation clearly specifies "left" calcaneus and "intraarticular" involvement.
• Confirm the fracture is explicitly documented as "open" and not just a soft tissue injury.
• This "B" encounter suffix is only for the initial treatment phase; subsequent care will require different encounter suffixes.