S52 — Fracture of forearm
S52 is a non-billable header ICD-10-CM code for fracture of forearm. 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 all codes from category S52
- A
- initial encounter for closed fracture
- B
- initial encounter for open fracture type I or II
- C
- initial encounter for open fracture type IIIA, IIIB, or IIIC
- D
- subsequent encounter for closed fracture with routine healing
- E
- subsequent encounter for open fracture type I or II with routine healing
- F
- subsequent encounter for open fracture type IIIA, IIIB, or IIIC with routine healing
- G
- subsequent encounter for closed fracture with delayed healing
- H
- subsequent encounter for open fracture type I or II with delayed healing
- J
- subsequent encounter for open fracture type IIIA, IIIB, or IIIC with delayed healing
- K
- subsequent encounter for closed fracture with nonunion
- M
- subsequent encounter for open fracture type I or II with nonunion
- N
- subsequent encounter for open fracture type IIIA, IIIB, or IIIC with nonunion
- P
- subsequent encounter for closed fracture with malunion
- Q
- subsequent encounter for open fracture type I or II with malunion
- R
- subsequent encounter for open fracture type IIIA, IIIB, or IIIC with malunion
- S
- sequela
Excludes1 — never code together
These conditions cannot occur together. Billing both on the same encounter is a denial.
- traumatic amputation of forearm (S58.-)
Excludes2 — not included here, but may coexist
The excluded condition is not part of this code, but a patient can have both. You may code both.
Notes
Additional guidance from the ICD-10-CM tabular list.
- 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 closed
- The open fracture designations are based on the Gustilo open fracture classification
Other codes that can never be billed with S52
These codes carry an Excludes1 note pointing at S52. The conflict binds both ways, but ICD-10-CM only writes it down on one side — so you would not find this by reading S52 alone.
Risk adjustment
S52 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.
Code to one of these instead S52
7 child codes. Green means billable.
Questions about S52
- Is S52 a billable ICD-10-CM code?
- No. S52 is a non-billable header code. Code to a higher level of specificity using one of its child codes.
- Where does S52 sit in the tabular list?
- Injury, poisoning and certain other consequences of external causes (S00-T88), in the block Injuries to the elbow and forearm (S50-S59).
- What cannot be coded together with S52?
- S52 carries an Excludes1 note, which means the conditions it lists can never be coded together with it on the same encounter.