S79.14
Salter-Harris Type IV physeal fracture of lower end of femur
S79.14 is a non-billable ICD-10-CM code header for salter-Harris Type IV physeal fracture of lower end of femur. 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 S79.141 Salter-Harris Type IV physeal fracture of lower end of right femur, S79.142 Salter-Harris Type IV physeal fracture of lower end of left femur and S79.149 Salter-Harris Type IV physeal fracture of lower end of unspecified femur. Its coding notes include a Use additional code instruction and 6 Excludes2 entries.
7th characters
Every code below needs one of these (defined at S79).
The appropriate 7th character is to be added to each code from subcategories S79.0 and S79.1
- 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.
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.
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)
Notes
- A fracture not indicated as open or closed should be coded to closed
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.
Alphabetic Index terms
Terms the official Alphabetic Index lists for this code. 1 entry