Version 2024

2024 ICD-10-CM Diagnosis Code S72.35

Comminuted fracture of shaft of femur

ICD-10-CM Code:
S72.35
ICD-10 Code for:
Comminuted fracture of shaft 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)

S72.35 is a non-specific and non-billable diagnosis code code, consider using a code with a higher level of specificity for a diagnosis of comminuted fracture of shaft 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 Comminuted fracture of shaft of femur

Non-specific codes like S72.35 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 comminuted fracture of shaft of femur:

  • S72.351 for Displaced comminuted fracture of shaft of right femur - NON-BILLABLE CODE

  • Use S72.351A for initial encounter for closed fracture - BILLABLE CODE

  • Use S72.351B for initial encounter for open fracture type I or II - BILLABLE CODE

  • Use S72.351C for or IIIC - BILLABLE CODE

  • Use S72.351D for subsequent encounter for closed fracture with routine healing - BILLABLE CODE

  • Use S72.351E for subsequent encounter for open fracture type I or II with routine healing - BILLABLE CODE

  • Use S72.351F for or IIIC with routine healing - BILLABLE CODE

  • Use S72.351G for subsequent encounter for closed fracture with delayed healing - BILLABLE CODE

  • Use S72.351H for subsequent encounter for open fracture type I or II with delayed healing - BILLABLE CODE

  • Use S72.351J for or IIIC with delayed healing - BILLABLE CODE

  • Use S72.351K for subsequent encounter for closed fracture with nonunion - BILLABLE CODE

  • Use S72.351M for subsequent encounter for open fracture type I or II with nonunion - BILLABLE CODE

  • Use S72.351N for or IIIC with nonunion - BILLABLE CODE

  • Use S72.351P for subsequent encounter for closed fracture with malunion - BILLABLE CODE

  • Use S72.351Q for subsequent encounter for open fracture type I or II with malunion - BILLABLE CODE

  • Use S72.351R for or IIIC with malunion - BILLABLE CODE

  • Use S72.351S for sequela - BILLABLE CODE

  • S72.352 for Displaced comminuted fracture of shaft of left femur - NON-BILLABLE CODE

  • Use S72.352A for initial encounter for closed fracture - BILLABLE CODE

  • Use S72.352B for initial encounter for open fracture type I or II - BILLABLE CODE

  • Use S72.352C for or IIIC - BILLABLE CODE

  • Use S72.352D for subsequent encounter for closed fracture with routine healing - BILLABLE CODE

  • Use S72.352E for subsequent encounter for open fracture type I or II with routine healing - BILLABLE CODE

  • Use S72.352F for or IIIC with routine healing - BILLABLE CODE

  • Use S72.352G for subsequent encounter for closed fracture with delayed healing - BILLABLE CODE

  • Use S72.352H for subsequent encounter for open fracture type I or II with delayed healing - BILLABLE CODE

  • Use S72.352J for or IIIC with delayed healing - BILLABLE CODE

  • Use S72.352K for subsequent encounter for closed fracture with nonunion - BILLABLE CODE

  • Use S72.352M for subsequent encounter for open fracture type I or II with nonunion - BILLABLE CODE

  • Use S72.352N for or IIIC with nonunion - BILLABLE CODE

  • Use S72.352P for subsequent encounter for closed fracture with malunion - BILLABLE CODE

  • Use S72.352Q for subsequent encounter for open fracture type I or II with malunion - BILLABLE CODE

  • Use S72.352R for or IIIC with malunion - BILLABLE CODE

  • Use S72.352S for sequela - BILLABLE CODE

  • S72.353 for Displaced comminuted fracture of shaft of unspecified femur - NON-BILLABLE CODE

  • Use S72.353A for initial encounter for closed fracture - BILLABLE CODE

  • Use S72.353B for initial encounter for open fracture type I or II - BILLABLE CODE

  • Use S72.353C for or IIIC - BILLABLE CODE

  • Use S72.353D for subsequent encounter for closed fracture with routine healing - BILLABLE CODE

  • Use S72.353E for subsequent encounter for open fracture type I or II with routine healing - BILLABLE CODE

  • Use S72.353F for or IIIC with routine healing - BILLABLE CODE

  • Use S72.353G for subsequent encounter for closed fracture with delayed healing - BILLABLE CODE

  • Use S72.353H for subsequent encounter for open fracture type I or II with delayed healing - BILLABLE CODE

  • Use S72.353J for or IIIC with delayed healing - BILLABLE CODE

  • Use S72.353K for subsequent encounter for closed fracture with nonunion - BILLABLE CODE

  • Use S72.353M for subsequent encounter for open fracture type I or II with nonunion - BILLABLE CODE

  • Use S72.353N for or IIIC with nonunion - BILLABLE CODE

  • Use S72.353P for subsequent encounter for closed fracture with malunion - BILLABLE CODE

  • Use S72.353Q for subsequent encounter for open fracture type I or II with malunion - BILLABLE CODE

  • Use S72.353R for or IIIC with malunion - BILLABLE CODE

  • Use S72.353S for sequela - BILLABLE CODE

  • S72.354 for Nondisplaced comminuted fracture of shaft of right femur - NON-BILLABLE CODE

  • Use S72.354A for initial encounter for closed fracture - BILLABLE CODE

  • Use S72.354B for initial encounter for open fracture type I or II - BILLABLE CODE

  • Use S72.354C for or IIIC - BILLABLE CODE

  • Use S72.354D for subsequent encounter for closed fracture with routine healing - BILLABLE CODE

  • Use S72.354E for subsequent encounter for open fracture type I or II with routine healing - BILLABLE CODE

  • Use S72.354F for or IIIC with routine healing - BILLABLE CODE

  • Use S72.354G for subsequent encounter for closed fracture with delayed healing - BILLABLE CODE

  • Use S72.354H for subsequent encounter for open fracture type I or II with delayed healing - BILLABLE CODE

  • Use S72.354J for or IIIC with delayed healing - BILLABLE CODE

  • Use S72.354K for subsequent encounter for closed fracture with nonunion - BILLABLE CODE

  • Use S72.354M for subsequent encounter for open fracture type I or II with nonunion - BILLABLE CODE

  • Use S72.354N for or IIIC with nonunion - BILLABLE CODE

  • Use S72.354P for subsequent encounter for closed fracture with malunion - BILLABLE CODE

  • Use S72.354Q for subsequent encounter for open fracture type I or II with malunion - BILLABLE CODE

  • Use S72.354R for or IIIC with malunion - BILLABLE CODE

  • Use S72.354S for sequela - BILLABLE CODE

  • S72.355 for Nondisplaced comminuted fracture of shaft of left femur - NON-BILLABLE CODE

  • Use S72.355A for initial encounter for closed fracture - BILLABLE CODE

  • Use S72.355B for initial encounter for open fracture type I or II - BILLABLE CODE

  • Use S72.355C for or IIIC - BILLABLE CODE

  • Use S72.355D for subsequent encounter for closed fracture with routine healing - BILLABLE CODE

  • Use S72.355E for subsequent encounter for open fracture type I or II with routine healing - BILLABLE CODE

  • Use S72.355F for or IIIC with routine healing - BILLABLE CODE

  • Use S72.355G for subsequent encounter for closed fracture with delayed healing - BILLABLE CODE

  • Use S72.355H for subsequent encounter for open fracture type I or II with delayed healing - BILLABLE CODE

  • Use S72.355J for or IIIC with delayed healing - BILLABLE CODE

  • Use S72.355K for subsequent encounter for closed fracture with nonunion - BILLABLE CODE

  • Use S72.355M for subsequent encounter for open fracture type I or II with nonunion - BILLABLE CODE

  • Use S72.355N for or IIIC with nonunion - BILLABLE CODE

  • Use S72.355P for subsequent encounter for closed fracture with malunion - BILLABLE CODE

  • Use S72.355Q for subsequent encounter for open fracture type I or II with malunion - BILLABLE CODE

  • Use S72.355R for or IIIC with malunion - BILLABLE CODE

  • Use S72.355S for sequela - BILLABLE CODE

  • S72.356 for Nondisplaced comminuted fracture of shaft of unspecified femur - NON-BILLABLE CODE

  • Use S72.356A for initial encounter for closed fracture - BILLABLE CODE

  • Use S72.356B for initial encounter for open fracture type I or II - BILLABLE CODE

  • Use S72.356C for or IIIC - BILLABLE CODE

  • Use S72.356D for subsequent encounter for closed fracture with routine healing - BILLABLE CODE

  • Use S72.356E for subsequent encounter for open fracture type I or II with routine healing - BILLABLE CODE

  • Use S72.356F for or IIIC with routine healing - BILLABLE CODE

  • Use S72.356G for subsequent encounter for closed fracture with delayed healing - BILLABLE CODE

  • Use S72.356H for subsequent encounter for open fracture type I or II with delayed healing - BILLABLE CODE

  • Use S72.356J for or IIIC with delayed healing - BILLABLE CODE

  • Use S72.356K for subsequent encounter for closed fracture with nonunion - BILLABLE CODE

  • Use S72.356M for subsequent encounter for open fracture type I or II with nonunion - BILLABLE CODE

  • Use S72.356N for or IIIC with nonunion - BILLABLE CODE

  • Use S72.356P for subsequent encounter for closed fracture with malunion - BILLABLE CODE

  • Use S72.356Q for subsequent encounter for open fracture type I or II with malunion - BILLABLE CODE

  • Use S72.356R for or IIIC with malunion - BILLABLE CODE

  • Use S72.356S 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.