ICD code S62.211B – Bennett's fracture, right hand

Key takeaways

S62.211B is a billable ICD-10-CM code for Bennett’s fracture, right hand, initial encounter for open fracture, effective FY2026 (Oct 1, 2025).

The 7th character ‘B’ specifically denotes an initial encounter for an open fracture, distinct from ‘A’ (closed) or ‘D’ (subsequent, routine healing).

Provider documentation must confirm laterality (right), encounter type (initial), and that the fracture is open before assigning this code.

CPT 26670 reads “other than thumb”, so it cannot be paired with S62.211B. The thumb CMC procedures are 26645, 26650 and 26665.

Pabau’s claims management software integrates with Claim.MD to validate and submit ICD-10-coded claims electronically to thousands of US payers.

ICD-10 Code S62.211B: Quick code reference

ICD-10 Code S62.211B sits within the S62.2 Bennett’s fracture subcategory, under the broader S62 fractures at the wrist and hand level. The table below captures the key facts coders need at a glance before reviewing documentation.

Verify the current billable status against the CDC/NCHS ICD-10-CM web tool before submission, as billable status may change with annual October 1 updates. The CMS ICD-10 codes page publishes the official update files each fiscal year.

What is Bennett’s fracture?

Bennett’s fracture is an intra-articular fracture at the base of the first metacarpal that extends into the carpometacarpal (CMC) joint of the thumb. It produces two fragments. A small volar fragment stays in place, held by the anterior oblique ligament. The metacarpal shaft displaces radially and proximally under the pull of the abductor pollicis longus.

The usual mechanism is an axial force along a partially flexed thumb. That happens in a fall on an outstretched hand, a punching injury, or a sports collision. The injury turns up most often in manual trades, combat sports, and ball-handling sports.

• Anatomy involved: First metacarpal base, CMC joint, anterior oblique ligament
• Displacement pattern: Volar fragment remains reduced; dorsal-radial fragment displaces proximally
• Common mechanism: Axial load on partially flexed thumb
• Classification: Intra-articular; distinguished from Rolando fracture (comminuted) and extra-articular metacarpal base fractures
• Treatment range: Closed reduction with thumb spica cast (stable cases) through percutaneous pin fixation or ORIF (unstable or open fractures)

For open fractures coded with S62.211B, the fracture communicates with the skin surface. That raises infection risk and usually calls for surgical debridement alongside fracture management.

What the 7th character ‘B’ means

The 7th character ‘B’ denotes an initial encounter for an open fracture. In ICD-10-CM, “initial encounter” means the period during which the patient is receiving active treatment for the fracture, which may cover several visits. It is not limited to the first appointment.

The full 7th character set for S62.211 (Bennett’s fracture, right hand) is as follows:

Read down the column and the pattern is a timeline rather than a visit count. The chart below maps each character to the phase of care it belongs to.

A common coding error is applying 7th character ‘B’ to a fracture that is closed. The documentation must state the wound is open, or indicate that the fracture site communicates with a laceration or puncture wound. According to the AAPC’s ICD-10-CM coding guidance, coders should not infer open fracture status from surgical approach alone.

S62.211B vs. related Bennett’s fracture codes

Selecting the right code from the S62.211 family depends on two variables: laterality and encounter type. The table below maps the sibling codes so coders can confirm the selection against the patient record.

The switch from initial to subsequent encounter is the one that catches practices out. It happens at a clinical milestone rather than on a set date. Once active treatment has concluded and the patient is in aftercare, the claim moves to S62.211D.

Where S62.211B sits in the ICD-10-CM hierarchy

S62.211B sits within chapter 19 of ICD-10-CM (Injury, poisoning, and certain other consequences of external causes). The full code tree is:

Only the last row is submittable. S62.21 and S62.211 are structural levels that carry no laterality or 7th character. A claim built on either one is rejected before it reaches adjudication.

Documentation requirements for S62.211B

Documentation decides whether S62.211B holds up. A claim submitted with this code must be supported by a provider note that addresses all four specificity components the code encodes.

• Laterality (right): The note must identify the right hand or right thumb. “Dominant hand” without naming the side does not satisfy the specificity requirement.
• First metacarpal involvement: The record should identify the fracture site as the base of the first metacarpal. That is what supports the Bennett’s fracture designation rather than a generic metacarpal fracture.
• Open fracture confirmation: The note must state the fracture is open, describe a wound communicating with the fracture site, or reference wound debridement. Surgical approach notes alone do not establish open fracture status.
• Initial encounter status: The visit must fall within the active treatment phase. The treating provider’s note should reflect active management rather than routine follow-up monitoring.

The ICD-10-CM Official Guidelines for Coding and Reporting are published jointly by CMS and NCHS. They require both the fracture description and the encounter type to be clearly supported in the record. Neither one can be inferred from the procedure that was performed.

Missing specificity is a frequent driver of denials on hand fracture claims. A pre-submission check reads the note for those four elements and catches the problem while the chart is still open. That costs a minute instead of a resubmission cycle.

CPT codes commonly billed with S62.211B

ICD-10 Code S62.211B is a diagnosis code, so it is paired with a procedure CPT code on the claim form. The CPT code depends on the treatment approach. Payer-specific rules and medical necessity criteria still apply, so consult payer policies before assuming coverage.

CPT 26670 is the pairing to watch for, because closed treatment of a carpometacarpal dislocation sounds like a fit. Its descriptor reads “other than thumb”, so it cannot be reported against a thumb CMC injury. S62.211B never pairs with it, and the three codes above are the thumb-specific options. Our CPT code reference lists the surrounding hand and wrist procedures if the operative note describes something different.

The codes above are examples rather than exhaustive billing guidance. Coverage policies, modifier requirements such as -LT and -RT, and prior authorization rules vary between payers. Check the individual contract before submission.

How Pabau keeps S62.211B claims clean before they reach the payer

A pairing error on a hand fracture claim usually surfaces weeks after the visit, when the remittance advice comes back. By then the coder is reconstructing a decision made from a note they did not write, and the payment sits another cycle away.

Pabau, practice management software built for medical and aesthetic practices, keeps the claim in the same record as the clinical note that supports it. Our claims management software submits electronically through Claim.MD, our US clearinghouse partner, which reaches thousands of US payers.

Claims are validated before they leave the practice, so a diagnosis and procedure mismatch is flagged at the desk instead of on a denial. For an orthopedic or trauma caseload, that moves the correction to the point where the documentation is still fresh.

Streamline your claims workflow with Pabau

Pabau’s claims management software integrates with Claim.MD to validate and submit ICD-10-coded claims electronically. Reduce denials on hand fracture and orthopedic codes with payer validation before submission.

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Conclusion

ICD-10 Code S62.211B describes a narrow clinical picture: an open Bennett’s fracture of the right hand, still under active treatment. The 7th character carries most of the billing risk. Coding ‘B’ for an intact skin surface, or ‘D’ while treatment continues, produces a denial the note could have prevented.

Treat the note as the control rather than the code lookup. If it names the side, the first metacarpal, the open wound, and the phase of treatment, the code follows from it. The CPT pairing then holds up. Book a demo to see how Pabau validates ICD-10 and CPT pairings before an orthopedic claim reaches the payer.

Continue your research

Treating the same patient after active treatment ends? ICD-10 code S62.211D covers the subsequent encounter with routine healing, including when to make the switch.

Fracture at the first metacarpal but not a Bennett’s pattern? ICD-10 code S62.291B covers other fractures of the first metacarpal bone in the right hand.

Need to understand how ICD-10 coding fits into your billing workflow? What is medical billing walks through the full process from diagnosis code assignment to claim submission and payment posting.

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