2026 ICD-10-CM Diagnosis Code S52Fracture of forearm
S52 is a non-billable ICD-10-CM category code for fracture of forearm, so it cannot be submitted on claims. Use a more specific code from this category instead, such as S52.001A, S52.001B, S52.001C, and S52.001D.
Code Identity
Code Classification
Specific Coding for Fracture of forearmOverview
Non-specific codes like S52 require more characters. Use one of these billable codes instead:
S52.0 for Fracture of upper end of ulna
S52.00 for Unspecified fracture of upper end of ulna
S52.01 for Torus fracture of upper end of ulna
S52.02 for Fracture of olecranon process without intraarticular extension of ulna
S52.03 for Fracture of olecranon process with intraarticular extension of ulna
S52.04 for Fracture of coronoid process of ulna
S52.09 for Other fracture of upper end of ulna
S52.1 for Fracture of upper end of radius
S52.10 for Unspecified fracture of upper end of radius
S52.11 for Torus fracture of upper end of radius
S52.12 for Fracture of head of radius
S52.13 for Fracture of neck of radius
S52.18 for Other fracture of upper end of radius
S52.2 for Fracture of shaft of ulna
S52.20 for Unspecified fracture of shaft of ulna
S52.21 for Greenstick fracture of shaft of ulna
S52.22 for Transverse fracture of shaft of ulna
S52.23 for Oblique fracture of shaft of ulna
S52.24 for Spiral fracture of shaft of ulna
S52.25 for Comminuted fracture of shaft of ulna
S52.26 for Segmental fracture of shaft of ulna
S52.27 for Monteggia's fracture of ulna
S52.28 for Bent bone of ulna
S52.29 for Other fracture of shaft of ulna
S52.3 for Fracture of shaft of radius
S52.30 for Unspecified fracture of shaft of radius
S52.31 for Greenstick fracture of shaft of radius
S52.32 for Transverse fracture of shaft of radius
S52.33 for Oblique fracture of shaft of radius
S52.34 for Spiral fracture of shaft of radius
S52.35 for Comminuted fracture of shaft of radius
S52.36 for Segmental fracture of shaft of radius
S52.37 for Galeazzi's fracture
S52.38 for Bent bone of radius
S52.39 for Other fracture of shaft of radius
S52.5 for Fracture of lower end of radius
S52.50 for Unspecified fracture of the lower end of radius
S52.51 for Fracture of radial styloid process
S52.52 for Torus fracture of lower end of radius
S52.53 for Colles' fracture
S52.54 for Smith's fracture
S52.55 for Other extraarticular fracture of lower end of radius
S52.56 for Barton's fracture
S52.57 for Other intraarticular fracture of lower end of radius
S52.59 for Other fractures of lower end of radius
S52.6 for Fracture of lower end of ulna
S52.60 for Unspecified fracture of lower end of ulna
S52.61 for Fracture of ulna styloid process
S52.62 for Torus fracture of lower end of ulna
S52.69 for Other fracture of lower end of ulna
S52.9 for Unspecified fracture of forearm
S52.90 for Unspecified fracture of unspecified forearm
S52.91 for Unspecified fracture of right forearm
S52.92 for Unspecified fracture of left forearm
Coding GuidelinesGuidance
The principles of multiple coding of injuries should be followed in coding fractures. Fractures of specified sites are coded individually by site, to the level of detail furnished by medical record content.
A fracture not indicated as open or closed should be coded to closed. A fracture not indicated whether displaced or not displaced should be coded to displaced.
Initial vs. Subsequent Encounter for Fractures
Traumatic fractures are coded using the appropriate 7th character for initial encounter (A, B, C) while the patient is receiving active treatment for the fracture. The appropriate 7th character for initial encounter should also be assigned for a patient who delayed seeking treatment for the fracture or nonunion.
Fractures are coded using the appropriate 7th character for subsequent care for encounters after the patient has completed active treatment of the fracture and is receiving routine care for the fracture during the healing or recovery phase.
Care for complications of surgical treatment for fracture repairs during the healing or recovery phase should be coded with the appropriate complication codes.
Care of complications of fractures, such as malunion and nonunion, should be reported with the appropriate 7th character for subsequent care with nonunion (K, M, N) or subsequent care with malunion (P, Q, R).
The open fracture designations in the assignment of the 7th character for fractures of the forearm, femur and lower leg, including ankle are based on the Gustilo open fracture classification. When the Gustilo classification type is not specified for an open fracture, the 7th character for open fracture type I or II should be assigned (B, E, H, M, Q).
Source: ICD-10-CM Official Guidelines for Coding and Reporting, FY 2026, published by CMS and the National Center for Health Statistics.
Tabular List NotesGuidance
Coding notes and annotation back-references applicable to this code.
Type 1 Excludes
- traumatic amputation of forearm S58
Type 2 Excludes
- fracture at wrist and hand level S62
- periprosthetic fracture around internal prosthetic elbow joint M97.4
7th Character Note
- The appropriate 7th character is to be added to all codes from category S52
7th Character
- A - initial encounter for closed fracture
- B - initial encounter for open fracture type I or II
- initial encounter for open fracture NOS
- 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
- 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
A type 1 excludes note is a pure excludes note. It means "NOT CODED HERE!" An Excludes1 note indicates that the code excluded should never be used at the same time as the code above the Excludes1 note. An Excludes1 is used when two conditions cannot occur together, such as a congenital form versus an acquired form of the same condition.
A type 2 excludes note represents "Not included here". An excludes2 note indicates that the condition excluded is not part of the condition represented by the code, but a patient may have both conditions at the same time. When an Excludes2 note appears under a code, it is acceptable to use both the code and the excluded code together, when appropriate.
Certain ICD-10-CM categories have applicable 7th characters. The applicable 7th character is required for all codes within the category, or as the notes in the Tabular List instruct. The 7th character must always be the 7th character in the data field. If a code that requires a 7th character is not 6 characters, a placeholder X must be used to fill in the empty characters.
Indicates that a seventh character is to be assigned to codes in a subcategory.
Patient EducationClinical
Arm Injuries and Disorders
Of the 206 bones in your body, three of them are in your arm: the humerus, radius, and ulna. Your arms are also made up of muscles, joints, tendons, and other connective tissue. Injuries to any of these parts of the arm can occur during sports, a fall, or an accident.
Read the full article at MedlinePlus
Courtesy of MedlinePlus, a service of the U.S. National Library of Medicine.
