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S72.321R vs S72.322R

S72.321R (Displaced transverse fracture of shaft of right femur, subsequent encounter for open fracture type IIIA, IIIB, or IIIC with malunion) compared with S72.322R (Displaced transverse fracture of shaft of left femur, subsequent encounter for open fracture type IIIA, IIIB, or IIIC with malunion), from the official CMS tabular data. S72.321R and S72.322R code the same condition on opposite sides.

Relationship

Review

Laterality relationship

S72.321R
Right
Displaced transverse fracture of shaft of right femur, subsequent encounter for open fracture type IIIA, IIIB, or IIIC with malunion
S72.322R
Left
Displaced transverse fracture of shaft of left femur, subsequent encounter for open fracture type IIIA, IIIB, or IIIC 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. S72.321R and S72.322R 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

S72.321RDisplaced transverse fracture of shaft of right femur, subsequent encounter for open fracture type IIIA, IIIB, or IIIC with malunionS72.322RDisplaced transverse fracture of shaft of left femur, subsequent encounter for open fracture type IIIA, IIIB, or IIIC 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)
DefinitionDisplaced transverse fracture of shaft of right femur, subsequent encounter for open fracture type IIIA, IIIB, or IIIC with malunion is a billable ICD-10-CM diagnosis code (S72.321R).Displaced transverse fracture of shaft of left femur, subsequent encounter for open fracture type IIIA, IIIB, or IIIC with malunion is a billable ICD-10-CM diagnosis code (S72.322R).
7th characterThe appropriate 7th character is to be added to all codes from category S72The appropriate 7th character is to be added to all codes from category S72

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