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S59.031A vs S59.039A

S59.031A (Salter-Harris Type III physeal fracture of lower end of ulna, right arm, initial encounter for closed fracture) compared with S59.039A (Salter-Harris Type III physeal fracture of lower end of ulna, unspecified arm, initial encounter for closed fracture), from the official CMS tabular data. S59.031A and S59.039A code the same condition on opposite sides.

Relationship

Review

Laterality relationship

S59.031A
Right
Salter-Harris Type III physeal fracture of lower end of ulna, right arm, initial encounter for closed fracture
S59.039A
Unspecified
Salter-Harris Type III physeal fracture of lower end of ulna, unspecified arm, initial encounter for closed fracture

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. S59.031A and S59.039A 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

S59.031ASalter-Harris Type III physeal fracture of lower end of ulna, right arm, initial encounter for closed fractureS59.039ASalter-Harris Type III physeal fracture of lower end of ulna, unspecified arm, initial encounter for closed fracture
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)
DefinitionSalter-Harris Type III physeal fracture of lower end of ulna, right arm, initial encounter for closed fracture is a billable ICD-10-CM diagnosis code (S59.031A).Salter-Harris Type III physeal fracture of lower end of ulna, unspecified arm, initial encounter for closed fracture is a billable ICD-10-CM diagnosis code (S59.039A).
7th characterThe appropriate 7th character is to be added to each code from subcategories S59.0, S59.1, and S59.2The appropriate 7th character is to be added to each code from subcategories S59.0, S59.1, and S59.2

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