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  6. 2024 ICD-10-CM Code S52
Version 2024
Non-Billable Code

2024 ICD-10-CM Diagnosis Code S52

Fracture of forearm

ICD-10-CM Code:
S52
ICD-10 Code for:
Fracture of forearm
Is Billable?
Not Valid for Submission
Code Navigator:

Code Classification

  • Injury, poisoning and certain other consequences of external causes
    (S00–T88)
    • Injuries to the elbow and forearm
      (S50-S59)
      • Fracture of forearm
        (S52)

S52 is a non-specific and non-billable diagnosis code code, consider using a code with a higher level of specificity for a diagnosis of fracture of forearm. 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 Fracture of forearm

Non-specific codes like S52 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 fracture of forearm:

  • S52.0 for Fracture of upper end of ulna - NON-BILLABLE CODE

  • S52.00 for Unspecified fracture of upper end of ulna - NON-BILLABLE CODE

  • S52.01 for Torus fracture of upper end of ulna - NON-BILLABLE CODE

  • S52.02 for Fracture of olecranon process without intraarticular extension of ulna - NON-BILLABLE CODE

  • S52.03 for Fracture of olecranon process with intraarticular extension of ulna - NON-BILLABLE CODE

  • S52.04 for Fracture of coronoid process of ulna - NON-BILLABLE CODE

  • S52.09 for Other fracture of upper end of ulna - NON-BILLABLE CODE

  • S52.1 for Fracture of upper end of radius - NON-BILLABLE CODE

  • S52.10 for Unspecified fracture of upper end of radius - NON-BILLABLE CODE

  • S52.11 for Torus fracture of upper end of radius - NON-BILLABLE CODE

  • S52.12 for Fracture of head of radius - NON-BILLABLE CODE

  • S52.13 for Fracture of neck of radius - NON-BILLABLE CODE

  • S52.18 for Other fracture of upper end of radius - NON-BILLABLE CODE

  • S52.2 for Fracture of shaft of ulna - NON-BILLABLE CODE

  • S52.20 for Unspecified fracture of shaft of ulna - NON-BILLABLE CODE

  • S52.21 for Greenstick fracture of shaft of ulna - NON-BILLABLE CODE

  • S52.22 for Transverse fracture of shaft of ulna - NON-BILLABLE CODE

  • S52.23 for Oblique fracture of shaft of ulna - NON-BILLABLE CODE

  • S52.24 for Spiral fracture of shaft of ulna - NON-BILLABLE CODE

  • S52.25 for Comminuted fracture of shaft of ulna - NON-BILLABLE CODE

  • S52.26 for Segmental fracture of shaft of ulna - NON-BILLABLE CODE

  • S52.27 for Monteggia's fracture of ulna - NON-BILLABLE CODE

  • S52.28 for Bent bone of ulna - NON-BILLABLE CODE

  • S52.29 for Other fracture of shaft of ulna - NON-BILLABLE CODE

  • S52.3 for Fracture of shaft of radius - NON-BILLABLE CODE

  • S52.30 for Unspecified fracture of shaft of radius - NON-BILLABLE CODE

  • S52.31 for Greenstick fracture of shaft of radius - NON-BILLABLE CODE

  • S52.32 for Transverse fracture of shaft of radius - NON-BILLABLE CODE

  • S52.33 for Oblique fracture of shaft of radius - NON-BILLABLE CODE

  • S52.34 for Spiral fracture of shaft of radius - NON-BILLABLE CODE

  • S52.35 for Comminuted fracture of shaft of radius - NON-BILLABLE CODE

  • S52.36 for Segmental fracture of shaft of radius - NON-BILLABLE CODE

  • S52.37 for Galeazzi's fracture - NON-BILLABLE CODE

  • S52.38 for Bent bone of radius - NON-BILLABLE CODE

  • S52.39 for Other fracture of shaft of radius - NON-BILLABLE CODE

  • S52.5 for Fracture of lower end of radius - NON-BILLABLE CODE

  • S52.50 for Unspecified fracture of the lower end of radius - NON-BILLABLE CODE

  • S52.51 for Fracture of radial styloid process - NON-BILLABLE CODE

  • S52.52 for Torus fracture of lower end of radius - NON-BILLABLE CODE

  • S52.53 for Colles' fracture - NON-BILLABLE CODE

  • S52.54 for Smith's fracture - NON-BILLABLE CODE

  • S52.55 for Other extraarticular fracture of lower end of radius - NON-BILLABLE CODE

  • S52.56 for Barton's fracture - NON-BILLABLE CODE

  • S52.57 for Other intraarticular fracture of lower end of radius - NON-BILLABLE CODE

  • S52.59 for Other fractures of lower end of radius - NON-BILLABLE CODE

  • S52.6 for Fracture of lower end of ulna - NON-BILLABLE CODE

  • S52.60 for Unspecified fracture of lower end of ulna - NON-BILLABLE CODE

  • S52.61 for Fracture of ulna styloid process - NON-BILLABLE CODE

  • S52.62 for Torus fracture of lower end of ulna - NON-BILLABLE CODE

  • S52.69 for Other fracture of lower end of ulna - NON-BILLABLE CODE

  • S52.9 for Unspecified fracture of forearm - NON-BILLABLE CODE

  • S52.90 for Unspecified fracture of unspecified forearm - NON-BILLABLE CODE

  • S52.91 for Unspecified fracture of right forearm - NON-BILLABLE CODE

  • S52.92 for Unspecified fracture of left forearm - NON-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).

Tabular List of Diseases and Injuries

The following annotation back-references are applicable to this diagnosis code. The Tabular List of Diseases and Injuries is a list of ICD-10-CM codes, organized "head to toe" into chapters and sections with coding notes and guidance for inclusions, exclusions, descriptions and more.


Type 1 Excludes

Type 1 Excludes
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.
  • traumatic amputation of forearm S58

Type 2 Excludes

Type 2 Excludes
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.
  • fracture at wrist and hand level S62
  • periprosthetic fracture around internal prosthetic elbow joint M97.4

7th Character Note

7th Character Note
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.
  • The appropriate 7th character is to be added to all codes from category S52

7th Character

7th Character
Indicates that a seventh character is to be assigned to codes in a subcategory.
  • 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

Patient Education


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.

Types of arm injuries include :

  • Tendinitis and bursitis
  • Sprains
  • Dislocations
  • Fractures (broken bones)
  • Nerve problems
  • Osteoarthritis

You may also have problems or injure specific parts of your arm, such as your hand, wrist, elbow, or shoulder.


[Learn More in MedlinePlus]

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]

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.