S32.038 — Other fracture of third lumbar vertebra
S32.038 is a non-billable header ICD-10-CM code for other fracture of third lumbar vertebra. It cannot be billed on its own: choose one of the more specific child codes below. This code also requires a 7th character before it is complete.
This code requires a 7th character
The appropriate 7th character is to be added to each code from category S32
- 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
- S
- sequela
Risk adjustment
S32.038 does not map to an HCC and does not risk-adjust under CMS-HCC V28. That is normal — most ICD-10 codes do not. It still needs to be coded correctly; it just will not move a RAF score.
How S32.038 is indexed
Coders do not find codes by browsing the tabular list — they look them up in the alphabetic index, under the word the physician wrote. These are the index entries that lead here, so you can see which chart wordings map to S32.038.
- Fracture, traumatic›vertebra, vertebral›lumbar›third›specified type NEC
Code to one of these instead S32.038
6 child codes. Green means billable.
- S32.038AOther fracture of third lumbar vertebra, initial encounter for closed fracture
- S32.038BOther fracture of third lumbar vertebra, initial encounter for open fracture
- S32.038DOther fracture of third lumbar vertebra, subsequent encounter for fracture with routine healing
- S32.038GOther fracture of third lumbar vertebra, subsequent encounter for fracture with delayed healing
- S32.038KOther fracture of third lumbar vertebra, subsequent encounter for fracture with nonunion
- S32.038SOther fracture of third lumbar vertebra, sequela
Related codes at this level
Codes that share S32.03. If S32.038 is not quite right, the correct code is usually one of these.
Questions about S32.038
- Is S32.038 a billable ICD-10-CM code?
- No. S32.038 is a non-billable header code. Code to a higher level of specificity using one of its child codes.
- Where does S32.038 sit in the tabular list?
- Injury, poisoning and certain other consequences of external causes (S00-T88), in the block Injuries to the abdomen, lower back, lumbar spine, pelvis and external genitals (S30-S39).