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S52.90 ICD-10-CM Code: Unspecified fracture of unspecified forearm

Billing Status: NO. This is a clinician non-billable / parent hierarchy grouping in the ICD-10-CM system.

Coding at a Glance

7th character
Required — see the character table on this page
Tabular directives
1 Excludes1 · 6 Excludes2

Code Overview

Unspecified fracture of unspecified forearm is a non-billable ICD-10-CM category code (S52.90). A more specific billable subcode must be selected for claims submission.

MedCoder summary Summary composed by MedCoder from this code's official ICD-10-CM record. The tabular instructional notes themselves appear verbatim below.

Official Tabular Instructional Notes

Sequencing, inclusion, and exclusion notes published for S52.90 in the official ICD-10-CM tabular list.

Notes without a marker are published on S52.90 itself; “inherited from” names the category or block whose note applies here.

Excludes1 — Not Coded Here

Conditions generally not reported together with this code (Excludes1) -- an error unless the two conditions are documented as unrelated to each other (ICD-10-CM Official Guidelines, Section I.A.12.a).

Source: inherited from S52

Excludes2 — Not Included Here

Conditions not covered by this code, but which may be reported alongside it when both are present.

7th Character Guide

"The appropriate 7th character is to be added to all codes from category S52"

  • A — initial encounter for closed fracture
  • B — initial encounter for open fracture type I or II
  • C — initial encounter for open fracture type IIIA, IIIB, or IIIC
  • D — subsequent encounter for closed fracture with routine healing
  • E — subsequent encounter for open fracture type I or II with routine healing
  • F — subsequent encounter for open fracture type IIIA, IIIB, or IIIC with routine healing
  • G — subsequent encounter for closed fracture with delayed healing
  • H — subsequent encounter for open fracture type I or II with delayed healing
  • J — subsequent encounter for open fracture type IIIA, IIIB, or IIIC with delayed healing
  • K — subsequent encounter for closed fracture with nonunion
  • M — subsequent encounter for open fracture type I or II with nonunion
  • N — subsequent encounter for open fracture type IIIA, IIIB, or IIIC with nonunion
  • P — subsequent encounter for closed fracture with malunion
  • Q — subsequent encounter for open fracture type I or II with malunion
  • R — subsequent encounter for open fracture type IIIA, IIIB, or IIIC with malunion
  • S — sequela

How the encounter character is assigned. “Initial encounter” means the patient is receiving active treatment for the condition — it is not limited to the first visit, and a different or new provider giving active treatment still assigns it. “Subsequent encounter” covers care during the healing or recovery phase after active treatment. “Sequela” is for complications or conditions that arise as a direct result of the original condition.

ICD-10-CM Official Guidelines for Coding and Reporting, Section I.C.19.a (paraphrased by MedCoder).

Variant codes in this family

S52.90XA, S52.90XB, S52.90XC, S52.90XD, S52.90XE, S52.90XF, S52.90XG, S52.90XH

Character meanings are CMS's official 7th-character extensions for this family, as carried in each variant code's official description; variant codes are registry rows. The explanation of how the encounter character is assigned is MedCoder editorial, distinct from the official content above it.

Change history

  • FY2016 — October 1, 2015
    In the code set at ICD-10-CM adoption
    Unspecified fracture of unspecified forearm

No changes since FY2016 — additions, deletions, description changes and billable-status changes are tracked through FY2027 (effective October 1, 2026), and none are recorded for this code. Note changes are tracked from FY2027 only.

Decision Points

The directives on this code's own record, as a pre-claim checklist.

  1. A 7th character applies in this family. Confirm the documented encounter matches the character assigned. See the official 7th-character definitions and this code’s variants
  2. 1 Excludes1 entry — codes named there are generally not reported together with this code (Guidelines I.A.12.a). See the Excludes1 notes
  3. 6 Excludes2 entries — those conditions are not part of this code and may be reported additionally when documented. See the Excludes2 notes

Checklist rows are derived from this code's own official directives; the wording of each check is MedCoder editorial. The official notes themselves are in the sections each row links to.

Verify Before Coding

From the code registry, the Medicare Code Editor, and the MS-DRG Definitions Manual. Check it against a full claim in Claim Check.

Relationships & Classification

Other codes that name S52.90 or its code family, from the CMS ICD-10-CM tabular instructional notes. Tabular-note edges are stored at the code family level that carries each note.

Referenced by 3 Excludes1 notes across 2 chapters: M84.3 — Stress fracture (via S52.-), M84.4 — Pathological fracture, not elsewhere classified (via S52.-), S51 — Open wound of elbow and forearm (via S52.-).

These codes’ tabular lists mark this diagnosis as mutually exclusive — not reported together unless the conditions are documented as unrelated.

Referenced by 12 Excludes2 notes: S40 — Superficial injury of shoulder and upper arm (via S52.-), S40-S49 — Injuries to the shoulder and upper arm (S40-S49) (via S52.-), S41 — Open wound of shoulder and upper arm (via S52.-), S42 — Fracture of shoulder and upper arm (via S52.-), S43 — Dislocation and sprain of joints and ligaments of shoulder girdle (via S52.-), S44 — Injury of nerves at shoulder and upper arm level (via S52.-), S45 — Injury of blood vessels at shoulder and upper arm level (via S52.-), S46 — Injury of muscle, fascia and tendon at shoulder and upper arm level (via S52.-), S47 — Crushing injury of shoulder and upper arm (via S52.-), S48 — Traumatic amputation of shoulder and upper arm (via S52.-), S49 — Other and unspecified injuries of shoulder and upper arm (via S52.-), S62 — Fracture at wrist and hand level (via S52.-).

These codes’ tabular lists name this diagnosis as distinct — both may be reported when both are documented.

Contextual Map

Every relationship of S52.90 in one view: hierarchy, official tabular instructions in both directions, clinical classification, risk adjustment, MS-DRG participation, index terms and change history — each edge carrying the CMS source it derives from.

Hierarchy

Referenced by Excludes1 notes

Referenced by Excludes2 notes (12)

Nearest codes (40)

Change history

  • FY2016 — In the code set at ICD-10-CM adoption [Change history]

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) & Clinical Guidance

Can S52.90 be billed directly?

No. S52.90 (Unspecified fracture of unspecified forearm) is a non-billable ICD-10-CM category code. A more specific billable subcode must be selected based on clinical documentation.

Does S52.90 require a 7th character?

Yes. The appropriate 7th character is to be added to all codes from category S52.

Nearest Codes in This Family

Official ICD-10-CM classifications closest to S52.90 in its code family, with their registry titles.

View all codes in the S52 family