Choosing ICD-10-CM Codes
Coding Example 5
Diagnosis: Fracture of left wrist, initial encounter
Step 1: Look up the term for the diagnosis in the Alphabetic Index.
Fracture, traumatic (abduction) (adduction) (separation) -see also Fracture, pathological T14.8
- wrist, S62.10-
- - carpal – see Fracture, carpal bone
The Alphabetic Index shows S62.10– as the code for a wrist fracture. The code features a dash (–) which shows that additional characters are needed. Next, verify this code in the Tabular List.
Step 2: Verify the code S62.10– in the Tabular List.
S62Fracture at wrist and hand level
Note:A fracture not indicated as displaced or nondisplaced should be coded to displaced
A fracture not indicated as open or closed should be coded to closedAdd the appropriate 7th character to each code from category S62.
A initial encounter for closed fracture
B initial encounter for open fracture
D subsequent encounter for fracture with routine healing
G subsequent encounter for fracture with delayed healing
K subsequent encounter for fracture with nonunion
P subsequent encounter for fracture with malunion
S sequela
Scroll down the list of codes until you locate the listing for S62.10:
S62.10Fracture of unspecified carpal bone
Fracture of wrist NOS
S62.101 Fracture of unspecified carpal bone, right wrist
S62.102 Fracture of unspecified carpal bone, left wrist
S62.109 Fracture of unspecified carpal bone, unspecified wrist
The Tabular List shows S62.102 as the code for fracture of unspecified carpal bone, left wrist.
Per the instructional note, the 7th character is A, initial encounter for closed fracture. You should choose A because the fracture isn't described as open or closed.
