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S52.255P vs S52.256P

S52.255P (Nondisplaced comminuted fracture of shaft of ulna, left arm, subsequent encounter for closed fracture with malunion) compared with S52.256P (Nondisplaced comminuted fracture of shaft of ulna, unspecified arm, subsequent encounter for closed fracture with malunion), from the official CMS tabular data. S52.255P and S52.256P code the same condition on opposite sides.

Relationship

Review

Laterality relationship

S52.255P
Left
Nondisplaced comminuted fracture of shaft of ulna, left arm, subsequent encounter for closed fracture with malunion
S52.256P
Unspecified
Nondisplaced comminuted fracture of shaft of ulna, unspecified arm, subsequent encounter for closed fracture with malunion

Same condition; these differ only in which side is documented.

These codes share a category and title and differ only in the side affected. The documentation decides which applies, and a bilateral code is reported only where the code set provides one.

Source: ICD-10-CM tabular list (laterality variant derived from the code title)

Can these codes be reported together?

Same condition, opposite side. S52.255P and S52.256P name the same condition on opposite sides of the body.

Same category and title, differing only in which side is affected — the documentation decides which one applies, and a bilateral code is reported only where the code set provides one.

Side by side

S52.255PNondisplaced comminuted fracture of shaft of ulna, left arm, subsequent encounter for closed fracture with malunionS52.256PNondisplaced comminuted fracture of shaft of ulna, unspecified arm, subsequent encounter for closed fracture with malunion
Billing statusBillableBillable
ClassificationS00-T88 — Injury, Poisoning and Certain Other Consequences of External Causes (S00-T88)S00-T88 — Injury, Poisoning and Certain Other Consequences of External Causes (S00-T88)
DefinitionNondisplaced comminuted fracture of shaft of ulna, left arm, subsequent encounter for closed fracture with malunion is a billable ICD-10-CM diagnosis code (S52.255P).Nondisplaced comminuted fracture of shaft of ulna, unspecified arm, subsequent encounter for closed fracture with malunion is a billable ICD-10-CM diagnosis code (S52.256P).
7th characterThe appropriate 7th character is to be added to all codes from category S52The appropriate 7th character is to be added to all codes from category S52

Derived from the official CMS ICD-10-CM tabular data (FY2026). Not billing advice; verify sequencing rules for the encounter. All data sources