7th Character Values: Open Fracture Type Encounter ICD-10-CM
The most detailed fracture set, used for forearm, femur and lower leg fractures. It separates closed fractures, open fractures type I or II, and open fractures type IIIA, IIIB or IIIC for every encounter and healing status. In FY 2027 3 categories use this set, covering 8,160 complete codes.
What Each Value Means 16 values
| Character | Meaning |
|---|---|
| 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 |
The Tabular List also prints “initial encounter for open fracture NOS” in the 7th character list under S52, S72, S82, after value B.
Categories That Use These Values 3 categories
| Category | Title | Chapter | Codes |
|---|---|---|---|
| S52 | Fracture of forearm | Ch. 19 | 2,688 |
| S72 | Fracture of femur | Ch. 19 | 2,448 |
| S82 | Fracture of lower leg, including ankle | Ch. 19 | 3,024 |
Every code under these categories takes one of the values above in the seventh position, with X placeholders when the code is shorter than six characters. For example, a code under S52 ends in A for initial encounter for closed fracture. “Codes” counts the complete 7-character codes.
Other 7th Character Value Sets
Questions About These 7th Characters
What do the 7th characters A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H, J, K, M, N, P, Q, R, S mean?
In this set: 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).
Which ICD-10-CM categories use the Open Fracture Type Encounter 7th characters?
3 categories and subcategories use them in FY 2027, covering 8,160 codes. The table above lists each one with its chapter and code count.
What if the code is shorter than six characters?
Fill the empty positions with the placeholder X so the 7th character is in the seventh position. A code that requires a 7th character is invalid without it (Sections I.A.4 and I.A.5).
Related References
Source: FY 2027 ICD-10-CM Tabular List (CMS and NCHS) and the ICD-10-CM Official Guidelines for Coding and Reporting FY 2027, Section I.A. ICD List is not affiliated with CMS or NCHS.
