Version 2024

2024 ICD-10-CM Diagnosis Code S72.06

Articular fracture of head of femur

ICD-10-CM Code:
S72.06
ICD-10 Code for:
Articular fracture of head of femur
Is Billable?
Not Valid for Submission
Code Navigator:

Code Classification

  • Injury, poisoning and certain other consequences of external causes
    (S00–T88)
    • Injuries to the hip and thigh
      (S70-S79)
      • Fracture of femur
        (S72)

S72.06 is a non-specific and non-billable diagnosis code code, consider using a code with a higher level of specificity for a diagnosis of articular fracture of head of femur. The code is not specific and is NOT valid for the year 2024 for the submission of HIPAA-covered transactions. Category or Header define the heading of a category of codes that may be further subdivided by the use of 4th, 5th, 6th or 7th characters.

Specific Coding Applicable to Articular fracture of head of femur

Non-specific codes like S72.06 require more digits to indicate the appropriate level of specificity. Consider using any of the following ICD-10-CM codes with a higher level of specificity when coding for articular fracture of head of femur:

  • S72.061 for Displaced articular fracture of head of right femur - NON-BILLABLE CODE

  • Use S72.061A for initial encounter for closed fracture - BILLABLE CODE

  • Use S72.061B for initial encounter for open fracture type I or II - BILLABLE CODE

  • Use S72.061C for or IIIC - BILLABLE CODE

  • Use S72.061D for subsequent encounter for closed fracture with routine healing - BILLABLE CODE

  • Use S72.061E for subsequent encounter for open fracture type I or II with routine healing - BILLABLE CODE

  • Use S72.061F for or IIIC with routine healing - BILLABLE CODE

  • Use S72.061G for subsequent encounter for closed fracture with delayed healing - BILLABLE CODE

  • Use S72.061H for subsequent encounter for open fracture type I or II with delayed healing - BILLABLE CODE

  • Use S72.061J for or IIIC with delayed healing - BILLABLE CODE

  • Use S72.061K for subsequent encounter for closed fracture with nonunion - BILLABLE CODE

  • Use S72.061M for subsequent encounter for open fracture type I or II with nonunion - BILLABLE CODE

  • Use S72.061N for or IIIC with nonunion - BILLABLE CODE

  • Use S72.061P for subsequent encounter for closed fracture with malunion - BILLABLE CODE

  • Use S72.061Q for subsequent encounter for open fracture type I or II with malunion - BILLABLE CODE

  • Use S72.061R for or IIIC with malunion - BILLABLE CODE

  • Use S72.061S for sequela - BILLABLE CODE

  • S72.062 for Displaced articular fracture of head of left femur - NON-BILLABLE CODE

  • Use S72.062A for initial encounter for closed fracture - BILLABLE CODE

  • Use S72.062B for initial encounter for open fracture type I or II - BILLABLE CODE

  • Use S72.062C for or IIIC - BILLABLE CODE

  • Use S72.062D for subsequent encounter for closed fracture with routine healing - BILLABLE CODE

  • Use S72.062E for subsequent encounter for open fracture type I or II with routine healing - BILLABLE CODE

  • Use S72.062F for or IIIC with routine healing - BILLABLE CODE

  • Use S72.062G for subsequent encounter for closed fracture with delayed healing - BILLABLE CODE

  • Use S72.062H for subsequent encounter for open fracture type I or II with delayed healing - BILLABLE CODE

  • Use S72.062J for or IIIC with delayed healing - BILLABLE CODE

  • Use S72.062K for subsequent encounter for closed fracture with nonunion - BILLABLE CODE

  • Use S72.062M for subsequent encounter for open fracture type I or II with nonunion - BILLABLE CODE

  • Use S72.062N for or IIIC with nonunion - BILLABLE CODE

  • Use S72.062P for subsequent encounter for closed fracture with malunion - BILLABLE CODE

  • Use S72.062Q for subsequent encounter for open fracture type I or II with malunion - BILLABLE CODE

  • Use S72.062R for or IIIC with malunion - BILLABLE CODE

  • Use S72.062S for sequela - BILLABLE CODE

  • S72.063 for Displaced articular fracture of head of unspecified femur - NON-BILLABLE CODE

  • Use S72.063A for initial encounter for closed fracture - BILLABLE CODE

  • Use S72.063B for initial encounter for open fracture type I or II - BILLABLE CODE

  • Use S72.063C for or IIIC - BILLABLE CODE

  • Use S72.063D for subsequent encounter for closed fracture with routine healing - BILLABLE CODE

  • Use S72.063E for subsequent encounter for open fracture type I or II with routine healing - BILLABLE CODE

  • Use S72.063F for or IIIC with routine healing - BILLABLE CODE

  • Use S72.063G for subsequent encounter for closed fracture with delayed healing - BILLABLE CODE

  • Use S72.063H for subsequent encounter for open fracture type I or II with delayed healing - BILLABLE CODE

  • Use S72.063J for or IIIC with delayed healing - BILLABLE CODE

  • Use S72.063K for subsequent encounter for closed fracture with nonunion - BILLABLE CODE

  • Use S72.063M for subsequent encounter for open fracture type I or II with nonunion - BILLABLE CODE

  • Use S72.063N for or IIIC with nonunion - BILLABLE CODE

  • Use S72.063P for subsequent encounter for closed fracture with malunion - BILLABLE CODE

  • Use S72.063Q for subsequent encounter for open fracture type I or II with malunion - BILLABLE CODE

  • Use S72.063R for or IIIC with malunion - BILLABLE CODE

  • Use S72.063S for sequela - BILLABLE CODE

  • S72.064 for Nondisplaced articular fracture of head of right femur - NON-BILLABLE CODE

  • Use S72.064A for initial encounter for closed fracture - BILLABLE CODE

  • Use S72.064B for initial encounter for open fracture type I or II - BILLABLE CODE

  • Use S72.064C for or IIIC - BILLABLE CODE

  • Use S72.064D for subsequent encounter for closed fracture with routine healing - BILLABLE CODE

  • Use S72.064E for subsequent encounter for open fracture type I or II with routine healing - BILLABLE CODE

  • Use S72.064F for or IIIC with routine healing - BILLABLE CODE

  • Use S72.064G for subsequent encounter for closed fracture with delayed healing - BILLABLE CODE

  • Use S72.064H for subsequent encounter for open fracture type I or II with delayed healing - BILLABLE CODE

  • Use S72.064J for or IIIC with delayed healing - BILLABLE CODE

  • Use S72.064K for subsequent encounter for closed fracture with nonunion - BILLABLE CODE

  • Use S72.064M for subsequent encounter for open fracture type I or II with nonunion - BILLABLE CODE

  • Use S72.064N for or IIIC with nonunion - BILLABLE CODE

  • Use S72.064P for subsequent encounter for closed fracture with malunion - BILLABLE CODE

  • Use S72.064Q for subsequent encounter for open fracture type I or II with malunion - BILLABLE CODE

  • Use S72.064R for or IIIC with malunion - BILLABLE CODE

  • Use S72.064S for sequela - BILLABLE CODE

  • S72.065 for Nondisplaced articular fracture of head of left femur - NON-BILLABLE CODE

  • Use S72.065A for initial encounter for closed fracture - BILLABLE CODE

  • Use S72.065B for initial encounter for open fracture type I or II - BILLABLE CODE

  • Use S72.065C for or IIIC - BILLABLE CODE

  • Use S72.065D for subsequent encounter for closed fracture with routine healing - BILLABLE CODE

  • Use S72.065E for subsequent encounter for open fracture type I or II with routine healing - BILLABLE CODE

  • Use S72.065F for or IIIC with routine healing - BILLABLE CODE

  • Use S72.065G for subsequent encounter for closed fracture with delayed healing - BILLABLE CODE

  • Use S72.065H for subsequent encounter for open fracture type I or II with delayed healing - BILLABLE CODE

  • Use S72.065J for or IIIC with delayed healing - BILLABLE CODE

  • Use S72.065K for subsequent encounter for closed fracture with nonunion - BILLABLE CODE

  • Use S72.065M for subsequent encounter for open fracture type I or II with nonunion - BILLABLE CODE

  • Use S72.065N for or IIIC with nonunion - BILLABLE CODE

  • Use S72.065P for subsequent encounter for closed fracture with malunion - BILLABLE CODE

  • Use S72.065Q for subsequent encounter for open fracture type I or II with malunion - BILLABLE CODE

  • Use S72.065R for or IIIC with malunion - BILLABLE CODE

  • Use S72.065S for sequela - BILLABLE CODE

  • S72.066 for Nondisplaced articular fracture of head of unspecified femur - NON-BILLABLE CODE

  • Use S72.066A for initial encounter for closed fracture - BILLABLE CODE

  • Use S72.066B for initial encounter for open fracture type I or II - BILLABLE CODE

  • Use S72.066C for or IIIC - BILLABLE CODE

  • Use S72.066D for subsequent encounter for closed fracture with routine healing - BILLABLE CODE

  • Use S72.066E for subsequent encounter for open fracture type I or II with routine healing - BILLABLE CODE

  • Use S72.066F for or IIIC with routine healing - BILLABLE CODE

  • Use S72.066G for subsequent encounter for closed fracture with delayed healing - BILLABLE CODE

  • Use S72.066H for subsequent encounter for open fracture type I or II with delayed healing - BILLABLE CODE

  • Use S72.066J for or IIIC with delayed healing - BILLABLE CODE

  • Use S72.066K for subsequent encounter for closed fracture with nonunion - BILLABLE CODE

  • Use S72.066M for subsequent encounter for open fracture type I or II with nonunion - BILLABLE CODE

  • Use S72.066N for or IIIC with nonunion - BILLABLE CODE

  • Use S72.066P for subsequent encounter for closed fracture with malunion - BILLABLE CODE

  • Use S72.066Q for subsequent encounter for open fracture type I or II with malunion - BILLABLE CODE

  • Use S72.066R for or IIIC with malunion - BILLABLE CODE

  • Use S72.066S for sequela - BILLABLE CODE

Coding Guidelines

The principles of multiple coding of injuries should be followed in coding fractures. Fractures of specified sites are coded individually by site nd 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) for each encounter where 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).

Malunion/nonunion: The appropriate 7th character for initial encounter should also be assigned for a patient who delayed seeking treatment for the fracture or nonunion.

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).

Index to Diseases and Injuries References

The following annotation back-references for this diagnosis code are found in the injuries and diseases index. The Index to Diseases and Injuries is an alphabetical listing of medical terms, with each term mapped to one or more ICD-10-CM code(s).

Patient Education


Fractures

A fracture is a break, usually in a bone. If the broken bone punctures the skin, it is called an open or compound fracture. Fractures commonly happen because of car accidents, falls, or sports injuries. Other causes are low bone density and osteoporosis, which cause weakening of the bones. Overuse can cause stress fractures, which are very small cracks in the bone.

Symptoms of a fracture are:

  • Intense pain
  • Deformity - the limb looks out of place
  • Swelling, bruising, or tenderness around the injury
  • Numbness and tingling
  • Problems moving a limb

You need to get medical care right away for any fracture. An x-ray can tell if your bone is broken. You may need to wear a cast or splint. Sometimes you need surgery to put in plates, pins or screws to keep the bone in place.


[Learn More in MedlinePlus]

Leg Injuries and Disorders

Your legs are made up of bones, blood vessels, muscles, and other connective tissue. They are important for motion and standing. Playing sports, running, falling, or having an accident can damage your legs. Common leg injuries include sprains and strains, joint dislocations, and fractures (broken bones).

These injuries can affect the entire leg, or just the foot, ankle, knee, or hip. Certain diseases also lead to leg problems. For example, knee osteoarthritis, common in older people, can cause pain and limited motion. Problems in your veins in your legs can lead to varicose veins or deep vein thrombosis.


[Learn More in MedlinePlus]

Code History

  • FY 2024 - No Change, effective from 10/1/2023 through 9/30/2024
  • FY 2023 - No Change, effective from 10/1/2022 through 9/30/2023
  • FY 2022 - No Change, effective from 10/1/2021 through 9/30/2022
  • FY 2021 - No Change, effective from 10/1/2020 through 9/30/2021
  • FY 2020 - No Change, effective from 10/1/2019 through 9/30/2020
  • FY 2019 - No Change, effective from 10/1/2018 through 9/30/2019
  • FY 2018 - No Change, effective from 10/1/2017 through 9/30/2018
  • FY 2017 - No Change, effective from 10/1/2016 through 9/30/2017
  • FY 2016 - New Code, effective from 10/1/2015 through 9/30/2016. This was the first year ICD-10-CM was implemented into the HIPAA code set.