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S72.441C vs S72.442C

S72.441C (Displaced fracture of lower epiphysis (separation) of right femur, initial encounter for open fracture type IIIA, IIIB, or IIIC) compared with S72.442C (Displaced fracture of lower epiphysis (separation) of left femur, initial encounter for open fracture type IIIA, IIIB, or IIIC), from the official CMS tabular data. S72.441C and S72.442C code the same condition on opposite sides.

Relationship

Review

Laterality relationship

S72.441C
Right
Displaced fracture of lower epiphysis (separation) of right femur, initial encounter for open fracture type IIIA, IIIB, or IIIC
S72.442C
Left
Displaced fracture of lower epiphysis (separation) of left femur, initial encounter for open fracture type IIIA, IIIB, or IIIC

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. S72.441C and S72.442C 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

S72.441CDisplaced fracture of lower epiphysis (separation) of right femur, initial encounter for open fracture type IIIA, IIIB, or IIICS72.442CDisplaced fracture of lower epiphysis (separation) of left femur, initial encounter for open fracture type IIIA, IIIB, or IIIC
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 fracture of lower epiphysis (separation) of right femur, initial encounter for open fracture type IIIA, IIIB, or IIIC is a billable ICD-10-CM diagnosis code (S72.441C).Displaced fracture of lower epiphysis (separation) of left femur, initial encounter for open fracture type IIIA, IIIB, or IIIC is a billable ICD-10-CM diagnosis code (S72.442C).
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