Coding fractures in ICD10

Coding instructions

• There are two main categories of fractures: (a) due to trauma/injury, and (b) nontraumatic fractures
• For fractures due to external causes i.e. trauma or injury, there are a number of specific codes identifying the bone in question.
  • Some of these are quite specific for the bone, e.g: Femur, fracture, injury/trauma
  • Others identify a group of bones, e.g: Ankle or foot or toes, fracture, injury/trauma
  • And when you only know the general region, e.g: Upper limb (arm) bones, level not specified/NOS, fracture, injury/trauma

Usually a fracture will also be associated with one or more other diagnosis codes.

• For example, since most fractures are traumas, in those cases you should also code the mechanism of trauma. See:

• If the mechanism of trauma is unknown or not among those listed, use Mechanism of injury: other NOS

• If it's a nontraumatic fracture, you should also code the cause, e.g:
  • Bone, pathologic fracture due to neoplastic disease
  • Osteoporosis with new pathologic fracture
  • Bone, stress fracture
  • Bone, pathologic fracture NOS
  • Bone, disorder of bone continuity