S49.0
Physeal fracture of upper end of humerus
S49.0 is a non-billable ICD-10-CM code header for physeal fracture of upper end of humerus. Report a more specific code from it instead. It is part of the FY2027 code set, effective October 1, 2026. The more specific codes under it are S49.00 Unspecified physeal fracture of upper end of humerus, S49.01 Salter-Harris Type I physeal fracture of upper end of humerus, S49.02 Salter-Harris Type II physeal fracture of upper end of humerus, S49.03 Salter-Harris Type III physeal fracture of upper end of humerus and 2 more. Its coding notes include a Use additional code instruction and 6 Excludes2 entries.
7th characters
Every code below needs one of these (defined at S49).
The appropriate 7th character is to be added to each code from subcategories S49.0 and S49.1
- Ainitial encounter for closed fracture
- Dsubsequent encounter for fracture with routine healing
- Gsubsequent encounter for fracture with delayed healing
- Ksubsequent encounter for fracture with nonunion
- Psubsequent encounter for fracture with malunion
- Ssequela
Guidelines tips
From the FY2027 Official Guidelines. ICD10Ref adds no rules of its own.
A fracture not stated as open or closed is coded closed, and one not stated as displaced or not displaced is coded displaced. Nonunion and malunion have their own 7th characters.
The 7th character depends on whether the patient is in active treatment, not on who sees the patient. An aftercare Z code is not used for injury aftercare.
Each injury gets its own code unless a combination code exists, with the most serious injury first. Superficial injuries at the same site as a more severe injury are not coded. Injuries during medical care are coded as complications.
Only the code for the type of physeal fracture is assigned, with no separate code for the specific bone.
Use additional code
Add the listed code as a secondary code, if known.
Also from chapter/block level (1 note)
- code to identify any retained foreign body, if applicable (Z18.-)
Excludes2
Not included here. Both codes may be reported if the patient has both conditions.
Also from chapter/block level (6 notes)
- birth trauma (P10-P15)
- obstetric trauma (O70-O71)
Includes
Further defines or gives examples of the content of the category.
Also from chapter/block level (2 notes)
- injuries of axilla
- injuries of scapular region
Notes
Also from chapter/block level (2 notes)
- 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.
More specific codes under S49.0 6
- S49.00Unspecified physeal fracture of upper end of humerusHeader
- S49.01Salter-Harris Type I physeal fracture of upper end of humerusHeader
- S49.02Salter-Harris Type II physeal fracture of upper end of humerusHeader
- S49.03Salter-Harris Type III physeal fracture of upper end of humerusHeader
- S49.04Salter-Harris Type IV physeal fracture of upper end of humerusHeader
- S49.09Other physeal fracture of upper end of humerusHeader