ICD code S52.614D – Right ulna styloid fracture with routine healing

Key takeaways

S52.614D is a billable ICD-10-CM code valid for FY2026 (effective October 1, 2025 through September 30, 2026), exempt from POA reporting.

The 7th character D reports a subsequent encounter for a closed fracture with routine healing. Use it at follow-up visits when the record shows the fracture healing as expected.

Do not confuse S52.614D (routine healing) with S52.614G (delayed healing) or S52.614K (nonunion). Each one reports a different healing trajectory and a different documentation burden.

Laterality and displacement both live in the 6th character, so a note that omits “right” or “nondisplaced” forces a less specific code.

Pabau’s claims management software supports ICD-10-CM code documentation and claim submission workflows for orthopedic and musculoskeletal practices.

ICD-10 Code S52.614D: Code overview and billable status

ICD-10 Code S52.614D reports a nondisplaced fracture of the right ulna styloid process at a subsequent encounter for a closed fracture with routine healing. It is a billable, specific ICD-10-CM code, valid for HIPAA-covered electronic transactions throughout fiscal year 2026. The code became effective on October 1, 2025 and expires September 30, 2026.

According to the CMS ICD-10-CM code files, the code is present-on-admission (POA) exempt. Inpatient facilities therefore do not need to supply a POA indicator when submitting it.

Anatomy: Understanding the ulna styloid process

The ulna styloid process is a small bony projection at the distal (lower) end of the ulna. It sits on the medial side of the wrist, just proximal to the triangular fibrocartilage complex (TFCC). It anchors the ulnar collateral ligament and the TFCC itself.

A fall on an outstretched hand (FOOSH) often fractures the styloid process alongside a distal radius fracture. Isolated styloid fractures also occur. Orthopedic and physical therapy coders therefore meet this code family often.

• Right laterality: the S52.61x family specifies the styloid process. The 6th character encodes displacement and laterality together, so 1 is displaced right and 4 is nondisplaced right.
• Displacement status: S52.614 through S52.616 are nondisplaced, and S52.611 through S52.613 cover the displaced variants. Displacement is clinically determined and must be documented in the operative or clinical note.
• Fracture type: open and closed fractures share the same S52.614 subcategory. The 7th character carries the distinction, so S52.614D is reserved for closed fractures.

The grid below lays out all six values in the subcategory, so you can read the side and the displacement status off one axis each.

Breaking down ICD-10 Code S52.614D character by character

Each character segment of S52.614D carries a discrete clinical meaning. Reading the code left to right tells you the anatomical site, the fracture characteristics, and the encounter type. The table below decodes every segment.

The 7th character is where most coding errors occur. The CDC/NCHS ICD-10-CM web tool lists the full 7th character set for this code. The ICD-10-CM Official Guidelines for Coding and Reporting define several options for fractures of the forearm. Each one represents a different encounter type and healing trajectory after the initial visit.

What does “subsequent encounter with routine healing” mean?

“Subsequent encounter with routine healing” means the patient is in the recovery phase after the initial treatment, and the fracture is healing as expected. The ICD-10-CM Official Guidelines, Section I.C.19.a, define a subsequent encounter as one that follows active treatment. The patient is now receiving routine care while the injury heals.

Cast changes, removal of a fixation device, medication adjustment, and scheduled imaging follow-ups all fall under this definition. The 7th character only moves away from D when the record documents a complication such as delayed healing, nonunion, or malunion.

Those six characters cover closed fractures. The same subcategory also carries open-fracture characters. B and C apply to initial encounters, E and F to routine healing, and H and J to delayed healing. M and N report nonunion, while Q and R report malunion. Pick from the closed set only when the record describes a closed fracture.

Key distinction: D is the default for a closed fracture in follow-up care. Move to G, K, or P only when the clinician has documented delayed healing, nonunion, or malunion by name. Coders should not infer a complication from an imaging report on their own.

Billable status, POA exemption, and reimbursement for S52.614D

S52.614D is a billable and specific ICD-10-CM code valid for HIPAA-covered electronic transactions. Practices using claims management software can submit it without modification for the full FY2026 cycle. The code is POA exempt, so acute-care hospitals do not record a present-on-admission indicator for it on inpatient claims.

Practice management software like Pabau submits these claims electronically through its Claim.MD integration. That covers 837P submission, real-time eligibility verification, and ERA/835 remittance processing for musculoskeletal fracture codes.

DRG assignment for S52.614D falls under the musculoskeletal Major Diagnostic Category (MDC), as confirmed in the CMS MS-DRG v43.0 definitions manual. The grouping depends on the patient’s full claim profile, including whether a complication or comorbidity (CC or MCC) is present.

Do not assume a single DRG without reviewing that profile. Denials in this code family often stem from an incorrect 7th character. Others fail because the note’s healing status does not match the character submitted.

Related ICD-10 codes: Laterality, displacement, and encounter variants

S52.614D belongs to a structured family of codes covering the full range of ulna styloid process fracture scenarios. The table below maps those variants by laterality and displacement status. Our ICD-10-CM code directory lists the neighboring codes if you need to check one of them.

Every row uses the subsequent encounter with routine healing (D) character, so the comparison stays like for like.

S52.614A vs S52.614D vs S52.614S: Choosing the right encounter code

The three primary encounter variants for this fracture represent sequential phases of care, not interchangeable synonyms. S52.614A is the initial encounter code. It applies from the first visit through any encounter where active clinical decision-making is occurring for the fracture, including surgery.

S52.614D applies once active treatment has finished and the patient is back for routine follow-up while the fracture heals. S52.614S applies when the patient presents for a sequela after active treatment has ended. A sequela is a complication or late effect that developed as a consequence of the fracture.

• S52.614A – Initial encounter: apply until the fracture treatment plan is established and carried out. Multiple visits can use A if the patient is still in the active treatment phase.
• S52.614D – Subsequent, routine healing: apply at follow-up visits when the record shows normal healing progress and names no complication.
• S52.614S – Sequela: apply when the fracture itself is resolved but a late effect (such as post-traumatic arthritis or chronic pain) is being treated.

S52.614D vs S52.614G vs S52.614K: Routine healing, delayed healing, and nonunion

These three codes share the same fracture and differ only in how healing is progressing. Choosing between them is the single most common decision point on a follow-up claim for this injury. The table below shows what each one reports and what the note has to say to support it.

Delayed healing and nonunion are separate findings, and no single ICD-10-CM character combines them. A record that describes slow healing without a confirmed nonunion supports G, never K.

ICD-9-CM equivalent and legacy code crosswalk

The approximate ICD-9-CM predecessor for S52.614D is 813.43, closed fracture of distal end of ulna (alone). ICD-9-CM could not specify the styloid process, displacement status, encounter type, and healing trajectory in one code.

The crosswalk is approximate, not equivalent. On historical data comparisons or legacy appeals, treat it as a general anatomical match. It is not a clinically precise translation, so check any figure it produces before you rely on it.

Clinical documentation tips for accurate coding of S52.614D

Accurate coding for this fracture depends on the clinical note supplying every element the code encodes. Missing one leaves the coder with a less specific code that may not pass payer edits. Laterality, displacement status, and healing trajectory all have to appear in the note.

• Laterality: the note must explicitly state “right” or “left.” Unspecified laterality defaults to S52.616D, which may trigger medical necessity edits from some payers.
• Displacement status: the treating clinician must document whether the fracture fragments have shifted position. “Nondisplaced” should appear in the imaging report or clinical assessment, not be inferred by the coder.
• Fracture type (open vs. closed): S52.614D applies only to closed fractures. An open fracture of the same site takes a different 7th character, such as E for routine healing.
• Healing status: the note should state how healing is progressing. Routine progress supports the D character. Delayed healing documented by the clinician moves the claim to G, and a confirmed nonunion moves it to K instead. The AHA Coding Clinic advises that the clinician’s documented statement governs, so coders should not interpret imaging on their own.
• Encounter type confirmation: the note must make clear that this visit is a follow-up after the initial fracture treatment, not the first encounter. A note that reads like an initial evaluation will prompt a question about whether A or D is more appropriate.

Common coding errors for nondisplaced right ulna styloid fractures

Denials in the S52.614 family cluster around a handful of repeatable errors. Catching them before submission saves rework and keeps your appeals queue small, which is the point of good denial management.

• Using A for a follow-up visit: some coders default to the initial encounter code (S52.614A) at every visit. Multiple A claims for the same patient and injury date then trigger a “duplicate initial encounter” edit. Once active treatment ends, subsequent visits shift to D, or to G, K, or P where a complication is documented.
• Reading D as a complication code: S52.614D reports routine healing, not delayed healing. Delayed healing is S52.614G and nonunion is S52.614K, so a note describing slow union does not belong on a D claim.
• Combining delayed healing with nonunion: no ICD-10-CM 7th character reports both at once. Pick G for documented delayed healing and K for a confirmed nonunion.
• Omitting laterality: submitting S52.616D (unspecified side) when the record clearly states “right wrist” is inaccurate. Unspecified codes also fail specificity edits on Medicare and many commercial payers.
• Misidentifying displacement: coding nondisplaced (S52.614D) when the imaging shows fragment displacement creates a clinical documentation mismatch. A displaced fracture on the right side is S52.611D, and the error can surface during an audit.
• Skipping the 7th character on re-bills: some legacy billing systems truncate 7-character ICD-10 codes to six characters and drop the final character. A truncated code is invalid and will reject at clearinghouse edits. Verify that the billing platform accepts and transmits the full 7-character code.

How Pabau supports fracture coding and claim submission

In most orthopedic and physical therapy practices, the encounter note and the claim live in separate systems. A coder reads the follow-up note and picks between the D, G, and K characters. The billing screen where that code gets typed shows none of the supporting documentation. That split is where a routine-healing visit quietly ships as a delayed-healing claim.

Pabau keeps the clinical note, the diagnosis code, and the claim on the same patient record. The coder can see what the clinician wrote about healing progress while selecting the 7th character, and the claim carries that note forward. The Claim.MD integration then submits the 837P, runs eligibility checks, and posts ERA/835 remittances back against the same record.

The outcome is fewer 7th-character corrections after the fact. Your team spends less time reworking denials and gets paid on the first submission more often. Every Pabau subscription includes the full billing toolset, with no feature tiers to unlock.

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Conclusion

The most common failure point with ICD-10 Code S52.614D is the 7th character. Coders who apply A to every follow-up visit generate preventable denials. So do coders who read D as a delayed-healing code. D is the routine-healing character. Confirm laterality, state displacement, and record how healing is progressing, and the code selects itself.

Pabau’s billing workflows and Claim.MD clearinghouse integration support orthopedic and musculoskeletal practices. ICD-10-CM codes go out accurately, and edits get caught before the claim reaches the payer. To see how Pabau handles fracture code documentation and billing, book a demo with our team.

Continue your research

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