2027 ICD-10-CM Diagnosis Code S52Fracture of forearm

ICD-10-CM Codes›S00–T88›S50-S59›S52

ICD-10-CM S52
CMSSource: CMS FY 2027 ICD-10-CM dataset · Effective Oct 1, 2026 – Sep 30, 2027

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

ICD-10-CM Code
S52
Billable Status
No — Non-Billable Category
Code Describes
Fracture of forearm
Short Description
Fracture of forearm
Same as the full description in the CMS dataset.
Chapter
S50-S59
Injuries to the elbow and forearm

Code Classification

ChapterS00–T88Injury, poisoning and certain other consequences of external causes
SectionS50-S59Injuries to the elbow and forearm
CategoryS52Fracture of forearm
This CodeS52Fracture of forearm

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 2027, published by CMS and the National Center for Health Statistics.

Instructional NotesGuidance

Instructions from the official ICD-10-CM Tabular List that apply to S52: its own notes plus those printed at block S50-S59 and Chapter 19. A note printed at a category, block or chapter applies to every code under it.

Excludes1

Not coded here: the excluded code is never reported together with this one, unless the two conditions are unrelated.

  • traumatic amputation of forearm (S58.-)

Excludes2

Not included here: the excluded condition is not part of this code, but a patient may have both, so both codes may be reported.

On S52 itself
  • fracture at wrist and hand level (S62.-)
  • periprosthetic fracture around internal prosthetic elbow joint (M97.4)
From Block S50-S59 Injuries to the elbow and forearm applies to 4,362 codes
  • burns and corrosions (T20-T32)
  • frostbite (T33-T34)
  • injuries of wrist and hand (S60-S69)
  • insect bite or sting, venomous (T63.4)
From Chapter 19 (S00-T88) Injury, poisoning and certain other consequences of external causes applies to 41,187 codes

Use Additional Code

Add a second code, after this one, to fully describe the condition.

From Chapter 19 (S00-T88) Injury, poisoning and certain other consequences of external causes applies to 41,187 codes
  • code to identify any retained foreign body, if applicable (Z18.-)

Notes

General instructions on how these codes are used.

On S52 itself
  • 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
From Chapter 19 (S00-T88) Injury, poisoning and certain other consequences of external causes applies to 41,187 codes
  • Use secondary code(s) from Chapter 20, External causes of morbidity, to indicate cause of injury. Codes within the T section that include the external cause do not require an additional external cause code
  • The chapter uses the S-section for coding different types of injuries related to single body regions and the T-section to cover injuries to unspecified body regions as well as poisoning and certain other consequences of external causes.

7th Character

Every code in the category takes a 7th character from the listed values, with the placeholder X filling any empty positions before it.

  • The appropriate 7th character is to be added to all codes from category S52
Values for category S52 Open Fracture Type Encounter
  • Ainitial encounter for closed fracture
  • Binitial encounter for open fracture type I or II
  • Cinitial encounter for open fracture type IIIA, IIIB, or IIIC
  • Dsubsequent encounter for closed fracture with routine healing
  • Esubsequent encounter for open fracture type I or II with routine healing
  • Fsubsequent encounter for open fracture type IIIA, IIIB, or IIIC with routine healing
  • Gsubsequent encounter for closed fracture with delayed healing
  • Hsubsequent encounter for open fracture type I or II with delayed healing
  • Jsubsequent encounter for open fracture type IIIA, IIIB, or IIIC with delayed healing
  • Ksubsequent encounter for closed fracture with nonunion
  • Msubsequent encounter for open fracture type I or II with nonunion
  • Nsubsequent encounter for open fracture type IIIA, IIIB, or IIIC with nonunion
  • Psubsequent encounter for closed fracture with malunion
  • Qsubsequent encounter for open fracture type I or II with malunion
  • Rsubsequent encounter for open fracture type IIIA, IIIB, or IIIC with malunion
  • Ssequela

Source: CMS ICD-10-CM Tabular List. How to read instructional notes.

Referenced in Other NotesGuidance

Instructional notes printed at other codes that name S52, its category, or a range that includes it.

Excludes1 3

These codes carry an Excludes1 note naming S52: they are not reported together with it, unless the two conditions are unrelated.

  • M84.3 Stress fracture
    traumatic fracture (S12.-, S22.-, S32.-, S42.-, S52.-, S62.-, S72.-, S82.-, S92.-)
  • M84.4 Pathological fracture, not elsewhere classified
    traumatic fracture (S12.-, S22.-, S32.-, S42.-, S52.-, S62.-, S72.-, S82.-, S92.-)
  • S51 Open wound of elbow and forearm
    open fracture of elbow and forearm (S52.- with open fracture 7th character)

Excludes2 1

These codes carry an Excludes2 note naming S52: its condition is not part of those codes, and both may be reported when the patient has both.

  • S62 Fracture at wrist and hand level
    fracture of distal parts of ulna and radius (S52.-)

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.

Code HistoryHistory

FY 2016AddedAdded to the ICD-10-CM code setEffective October 1, 2015, the first year of ICD-10-CM.
FY 2017–2026No changes
FY 2027CurrentCurrent code set, no changesEffective October 1, 2026 through September 30, 2027.

Questions About S52Overview

What is the ICD-10 code for fracture of forearm?

S52 is the ICD-10-CM category for fracture of forearm, but it is a non-billable header: claims need a more specific code from this category, listed on this page.

Is S52 (Fracture of forearm) a billable code?

No. This is a category header that groups the codes for fracture of forearm, and headers cannot be submitted on claims. Claims for fracture of forearm need a more specific code from this category, such as S52.001A, S52.001B, and S52.001C.

Can S52 be reported with a code from S58?

Not as a rule. The Excludes1 note on S52 lists "traumatic amputation of forearm (S58.-)". An Excludes1 note means the excluded code is never reported together with this one; the only exception is when the two conditions are unrelated to each other (Official Guidelines, Section I.A.12.a).