{"id":148088,"date":"2026-08-12T12:44:01","date_gmt":"2026-08-12T12:44:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/pabau.com\/?p=148088"},"modified":"2026-08-12T13:37:32","modified_gmt":"2026-08-12T13:37:32","slug":"icd-10-code-s52262k","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/pabau.com\/nl\/diagnostic-codes\/icd-10-code-s52262k\/","title":{"rendered":"ICD-10 code S52.262K: Ulna shaft nonunion coding guide"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\">{\"@context\":\"https:\/\/schema.org\",\"@type\":\"MedicalWebPage\",\"headline\":\"ICD-10 code S52.262K: Displaced segmental fracture of shaft of ulna, left arm, nonunion\",\"description\":\"ICD-10 code S52.262K covers a displaced segmental fracture of the shaft of the ulna, left arm, at a subsequent encounter for a closed fracture with nonunion. Coding reference for orthopedic and billing teams.\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/pabau.com\/diagnostic-codes\/icd-10-code-s52262k\/\",\"audience\":{\"@type\":\"MedicalAudience\",\"audienceType\":\"Clinician\"},\"reviewedBy\":{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"name\":\"Dr Vanja Kitanova\",\"jobTitle\":\"Medical Reviewer\",\"affiliation\":{\"@type\":\"Organization\",\"name\":\"Pabau\"},\"knowsAbout\":[\"Medical Coding\",\"Clinical Documentation\",\"Healthcare Billing\",\"Clinical Safety\"],\"sameAs\":\"https:\/\/pabau.com\/blog\/author\/vanja\/\"},\"datePublished\":\"2026-07-01\",\"dateModified\":\"2026-08-12\"}<\/script>\n\n\n        <div id=\"key_takeaways\">\n            <div class=\"header\">\n                                    <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/pabau.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Key-Takeaways-Icon.svg\" alt=\"Key takeaways\" height=\"42\" width=\"42\">\n                                <h3>Key takeaways<\/h3>\n            <\/div>\n            <div class=\"list\">\n                                                            <div class=\"item\">\n                            <div>\n                                <svg width=\"20\" height=\"27\" viewBox=\"0 0 20 27\" fill=\"none\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\">\n                                    <path\n                                        d=\"M18.6223 14.3857C19.1246 13.8975 19.1246 13.1045 18.6223 12.6162L12.1938 6.36621C11.6915 5.87793 10.8759 5.87793 10.3737 6.36621C9.87143 6.85449 9.87143 7.64746 10.3737 8.13574L14.6125 12.2529H2.28571C1.57455 12.2529 1 12.8115 1 13.5029C1 14.1943 1.57455 14.7529 2.28571 14.7529H14.6085L10.3777 18.8701C9.87545 19.3584 9.87545 20.1514 10.3777 20.6396C10.8799 21.1279 11.6955 21.1279 12.1978 20.6396L18.6263 14.3896L18.6223 14.3857Z\"\n                                        fill=\"#3D3D46\" \/>\n                                <\/svg>\n                            <\/div>\n                            <p>S52.262K covers a displaced segmental fracture of the left ulna shaft, seen again after treatment, with the bone still not united.<\/p>\n                        <\/div>\n                                                                                <div class=\"item\">\n                            <div>\n                                <svg width=\"20\" height=\"27\" viewBox=\"0 0 20 27\" fill=\"none\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\">\n                                    <path\n                                        d=\"M18.6223 14.3857C19.1246 13.8975 19.1246 13.1045 18.6223 12.6162L12.1938 6.36621C11.6915 5.87793 10.8759 5.87793 10.3737 6.36621C9.87143 6.85449 9.87143 7.64746 10.3737 8.13574L14.6125 12.2529H2.28571C1.57455 12.2529 1 12.8115 1 13.5029C1 14.1943 1.57455 14.7529 2.28571 14.7529H14.6085L10.3777 18.8701C9.87545 19.3584 9.87545 20.1514 10.3777 20.6396C10.8799 21.1279 11.6955 21.1279 12.1978 20.6396L18.6263 14.3896L18.6223 14.3857Z\"\n                                        fill=\"#3D3D46\" \/>\n                                <\/svg>\n                            <\/div>\n                            <p>The 7th character K means a closed fracture that has failed to heal at a subsequent encounter.<\/p>\n                        <\/div>\n                                                                                <div class=\"item\">\n                            <div>\n                                <svg width=\"20\" height=\"27\" viewBox=\"0 0 20 27\" fill=\"none\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\">\n                                    <path\n                                        d=\"M18.6223 14.3857C19.1246 13.8975 19.1246 13.1045 18.6223 12.6162L12.1938 6.36621C11.6915 5.87793 10.8759 5.87793 10.3737 6.36621C9.87143 6.85449 9.87143 7.64746 10.3737 8.13574L14.6125 12.2529H2.28571C1.57455 12.2529 1 12.8115 1 13.5029C1 14.1943 1.57455 14.7529 2.28571 14.7529H14.6085L10.3777 18.8701C9.87545 19.3584 9.87545 20.1514 10.3777 20.6396C10.8799 21.1279 11.6955 21.1279 12.1978 20.6396L18.6263 14.3896L18.6223 14.3857Z\"\n                                        fill=\"#3D3D46\" \/>\n                                <\/svg>\n                            <\/div>\n                            <p>Nonunion is not malunion, so K and P are never interchangeable on the same claim.<\/p>\n                        <\/div>\n                                                                                <div class=\"item\">\n                            <div>\n                                <svg width=\"20\" height=\"27\" viewBox=\"0 0 20 27\" fill=\"none\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\">\n                                    <path\n                                        d=\"M18.6223 14.3857C19.1246 13.8975 19.1246 13.1045 18.6223 12.6162L12.1938 6.36621C11.6915 5.87793 10.8759 5.87793 10.3737 6.36621C9.87143 6.85449 9.87143 7.64746 10.3737 8.13574L14.6125 12.2529H2.28571C1.57455 12.2529 1 12.8115 1 13.5029C1 14.1943 1.57455 14.7529 2.28571 14.7529H14.6085L10.3777 18.8701C9.87545 19.3584 9.87545 20.1514 10.3777 20.6396C10.8799 21.1279 11.6955 21.1279 12.1978 20.6396L18.6263 14.3896L18.6223 14.3857Z\"\n                                        fill=\"#3D3D46\" \/>\n                                <\/svg>\n                            <\/div>\n                            <p>Open-fracture nonunion takes M or N, so check what the initial encounter was coded as first.<\/p>\n                        <\/div>\n                                                                                <div class=\"item\">\n                            <div>\n                                <svg width=\"20\" height=\"27\" viewBox=\"0 0 20 27\" fill=\"none\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\">\n                                    <path\n                                        d=\"M18.6223 14.3857C19.1246 13.8975 19.1246 13.1045 18.6223 12.6162L12.1938 6.36621C11.6915 5.87793 10.8759 5.87793 10.3737 6.36621C9.87143 6.85449 9.87143 7.64746 10.3737 8.13574L14.6125 12.2529H2.28571C1.57455 12.2529 1 12.8115 1 13.5029C1 14.1943 1.57455 14.7529 2.28571 14.7529H14.6085L10.3777 18.8701C9.87545 19.3584 9.87545 20.1514 10.3777 20.6396C10.8799 21.1279 11.6955 21.1279 12.1978 20.6396L18.6263 14.3896L18.6223 14.3857Z\"\n                                        fill=\"#3D3D46\" \/>\n                                <\/svg>\n                            <\/div>\n                            <p>Practice management software like Pabau keeps imaging dates and encounter notes in one client record, which supports the K character.<\/p>\n                        <\/div>\n                                                <\/div>\n        <\/div>\n    \n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">ICD-10 code S52.262K describes a displaced segmental fracture of the left ulna shaft at a subsequent encounter, where the closed fracture has not united. It is the code you reach for when the follow-up X-ray still shows a clean line across the bone.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Segmental fractures break the ulna in at least two places and leave a floating middle piece. That middle piece loses much of its blood supply, so healing stalls here more often than in a simple break.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The diagnosis itself never changes through all of this. S52.262 stays put, and the 7th character carries the healing story. Get that character right and the claim reads as one continuous episode of care. Get it wrong and the payer sees a fracture that is healing normally.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe title=\"ICD-10 Revisions: Stay Updated or Fall Behind\" width=\"800\" height=\"450\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/bqAyb-BCA0w?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 id=\"h-what-icd-10-code-s52-262k-actually-covers\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">What ICD-10 code S52.262K actually covers<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The code is correct only when five facts line up. The fracture is displaced and segmental. It sits in the shaft of the left ulna, it was closed at the start, and it has not united. Read the code from left to right and each fact appears in order.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>S52<\/strong> = Fracture of forearm, the parent category covering radius and ulna<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>S52.2<\/strong> = Fracture of shaft of ulna<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>S52.26<\/strong> = Segmental fracture of shaft of ulna<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>S52.262<\/strong> = Displaced segmental fracture of shaft of ulna, left arm<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>K<\/strong> (7th character) = Subsequent encounter for closed fracture with nonunion<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Displaced means the fragments have shifted out of alignment. Segmental means there are two fracture lines with an isolated piece between them. Both words have to be supported by the imaging report, not assumed from the injury story.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The code is active in the 2025 and 2026 ICD-10-CM code sets. You can confirm that in the <a href=\"https:\/\/icd10cmtool.cdc.gov\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">CDC\/NCHS ICD-10-CM web tool<\/a> before you submit. The <a href=\"https:\/\/www.cms.gov\/medicare\/coding-billing\/icd-10-codes\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS)<\/a> has required ICD-10-CM on every claim dated October 1, 2015 or later.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 id=\"h-the-7th-character-carries-the-healing-story\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">The 7th character carries the healing story<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">That single letter tells the payer where the patient sits in the episode and how the bone is doing. On this family, it is the only thing separating a routine follow-up from a stalled one. Sending D when the note says nonunion is a common audit trigger.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<table style=\"width:100%;border-collapse:separate;border-spacing:0;border-radius:12px;overflow:hidden;font-size:15px;line-height:1.5;margin:1.5em 0 2em;box-shadow:0 2px 12px rgba(0,0,0,0.08)\"><thead><tr><th style=\"background:#121D36;color:#fff;padding:14px 16px;text-align:left;font-weight:600;font-size:14px;letter-spacing:0.3px;border-bottom:2px solid #2BADD4\">Code<\/th><th style=\"background:#121D36;color:#fff;padding:14px 16px;text-align:left;font-weight:600;font-size:14px;letter-spacing:0.3px;border-bottom:2px solid #2BADD4\">7th character meaning<\/th><th style=\"background:#121D36;color:#fff;padding:14px 16px;text-align:left;font-weight:600;font-size:14px;letter-spacing:0.3px;border-bottom:2px solid #2BADD4\">When to use<\/th><\/tr><\/thead><tbody><tr style=\"border-bottom:1px solid #E8ECF0\"><td style=\"padding:12px 16px;font-weight:600;color:#121D36\">S52.262A<\/td><td style=\"padding:12px 16px;color:#374151\">Initial encounter, closed fracture<\/td><td style=\"padding:12px 16px;color:#374151\">First time the patient receives active treatment for this fracture<\/td><\/tr><tr style=\"border-bottom:1px solid #E8ECF0;background:#F9FAFB\"><td style=\"padding:12px 16px;font-weight:600;color:#121D36\">S52.262D<\/td><td style=\"padding:12px 16px;color:#374151\">Subsequent encounter, closed, routine healing<\/td><td style=\"padding:12px 16px;color:#374151\">Follow-up visits where the fracture is progressing normally<\/td><\/tr><tr style=\"border-bottom:1px solid #E8ECF0\"><td style=\"padding:12px 16px;font-weight:600;color:#121D36\">S52.262G<\/td><td style=\"padding:12px 16px;color:#374151\">Subsequent encounter, closed, delayed healing<\/td><td style=\"padding:12px 16px;color:#374151\">Healing is happening, but slower than expected<\/td><\/tr><tr style=\"border-bottom:1px solid #E8ECF0;background:#F9FAFB\"><td style=\"padding:12px 16px;font-weight:600;color:#121D36\"><strong>S52.262K<\/strong><\/td><td style=\"padding:12px 16px;color:#374151\"><strong>Subsequent encounter, closed, nonunion<\/strong><\/td><td style=\"padding:12px 16px;color:#374151\"><strong>Healing has failed and the bone ends have not joined<\/strong><\/td><\/tr><tr style=\"border-bottom:1px solid #E8ECF0\"><td style=\"padding:12px 16px;font-weight:600;color:#121D36\">S52.262M<\/td><td style=\"padding:12px 16px;color:#374151\">Subsequent encounter, open type I or II, nonunion<\/td><td style=\"padding:12px 16px;color:#374151\">Nonunion after a Gustilo type I or II open fracture<\/td><\/tr><tr style=\"border-bottom:1px solid #E8ECF0;background:#F9FAFB\"><td style=\"padding:12px 16px;font-weight:600;color:#121D36\">S52.262N<\/td><td style=\"padding:12px 16px;color:#374151\">Subsequent encounter, open type IIIA to IIIC, nonunion<\/td><td style=\"padding:12px 16px;color:#374151\">Nonunion after a high-energy Gustilo type III open fracture<\/td><\/tr><tr style=\"border-bottom:1px solid #E8ECF0\"><td style=\"padding:12px 16px;font-weight:600;color:#121D36\">S52.262P<\/td><td style=\"padding:12px 16px;color:#374151\">Subsequent encounter, closed, malunion<\/td><td style=\"padding:12px 16px;color:#374151\">The fracture healed, but in a faulty position<\/td><\/tr><tr style=\"border-bottom:1px solid #E8ECF0;background:#F9FAFB\"><td style=\"padding:12px 16px;font-weight:600;color:#121D36\">S52.262S<\/td><td style=\"padding:12px 16px;color:#374151\">Sequela<\/td><td style=\"padding:12px 16px;color:#374151\">Late effects once active treatment is complete<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Two things follow from that table. The character moves as the fracture&#8217;s status moves. One episode can run from A through D and G to a final K character. Sequela is the odd one out, since it codes a late effect after active treatment ends. That is the same job <a href=\"https:\/\/pabau.com\/diagnostic-codes\/icd-10-code-s62032s\/\">S62.032S<\/a> does for an old scaphoid injury.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 id=\"h-open-fractures-take-m-or-n-never-k\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Open fractures take M or N, never K<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">If the original fracture was open, nonunion is coded M or N rather than K. M covers a Gustilo type I or II open fracture. N covers types IIIA, IIIB, and IIIC. Q and R are the open-fracture malunion characters, so they never stand in for nonunion.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The same split runs back to the first visit. Only B and C mark an initial encounter for an open fracture, again by Gustilo grade. D, E, and F are subsequent-encounter characters for routine healing, so none of them belongs on a first visit. Mixing open and closed characters inside one episode is what pulls a claim into medical review.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 id=\"h-nonunion-and-malunion-are-not-the-same-claim\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Nonunion and malunion are not the same claim<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Nonunion means the bone never joined. Malunion means it joined in the wrong position. Coders mix them up constantly, and the two outcomes lead to different 7th characters, different surgical plans, and different payer expectations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Nonunion (S52.262K)<\/strong>: The fracture has not united. Imaging shows a persistent fracture line and no bridging callus.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Malunion (S52.262P)<\/strong>: The fracture united, but in an angulated or rotated position. There is union, just not the right one.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Delayed healing (S52.262G)<\/strong>: Healing is under way, only slower than expected. This is not yet nonunion.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Delayed healing is worth its own mention, since it is the character most often skipped. Practices code straight from D to K and lose the middle of the story. The same character appears across the other fracture chapters, as on <a href=\"https:\/\/pabau.com\/diagnostic-codes\/icd-10-code-s62360g\/\">S62.360G<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Radiographically, nonunion is usually called at around six months when no bridging callus is visible. Clinical signs point at it earlier, though, through persistent pain and movement at the fracture site. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Rehab notes carry weight here too. A <a href=\"https:\/\/pabau.com\/industry\/physical-therapy-emr\/\">physical therapy EMR<\/a> that records ongoing pain and limited pronation gives you a second clinician confirming the picture.<\/p>\n\n\n        <div id=\"pro_tip\">\n            <div class=\"img\">\n                <svg width=\"42\" height=\"42\" viewBox=\"0 0 42 42\" fill=\"none\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\">\n                    <path fill-rule=\"evenodd\" clip-rule=\"evenodd\"\n                        d=\"M12.6383 19.5238C12.6632 21.2071 12.8734 22.9926 12.0685 24.5523C11.0341 26.8917 8.45076 28.169 7.56292 30.5918C6.63082 33.1061 7.19505 36.185 9.31371 37.9786C10.929 39.5678 13.4183 39.9873 15.6061 39.5463C17.4592 39.073 19.1049 37.8388 19.9706 36.1608C20.781 34.7141 20.7866 32.9904 20.5293 31.3985C20.1006 29.3092 18.3775 27.8705 16.9807 26.362C14.8814 24.1005 14.6684 20.6854 15.595 17.8915C16.4331 15.4768 19.0026 14.2344 20.0425 11.9461C20.7202 10.6769 20.7506 9.20327 20.6068 7.81304C20.1864 5.40098 18.3139 3.23631 15.8716 2.56674C13.9742 2.03969 11.8224 2.30052 10.1739 3.37614C8.70522 4.34688 7.5878 5.86618 7.28356 7.58178C6.76081 9.82981 7.53525 12.2822 9.20307 13.9118C10.7658 15.4741 12.4806 17.2273 12.6383 19.5238Z\"\n                        fill=\"#2BADD4\" \/>\n                    <path fill-rule=\"evenodd\" clip-rule=\"evenodd\"\n                        d=\"M22.7048 19.8387C22.6822 22.3279 24.4507 24.6234 26.7493 25.4682C28.0531 25.961 29.4725 25.9183 30.7989 25.5487C32.0575 24.9955 33.301 24.2237 34.0069 23.0092C34.8384 21.5811 35.2982 19.8286 34.7832 18.2094C34.3611 16.2507 32.8739 14.6541 31.0275 13.9426C28.6736 12.9595 25.8073 13.7942 24.1719 15.7001C23.2022 16.8366 22.6143 18.3326 22.7048 19.8387Z\"\n                        fill=\"#2BADD4\" \/>\n                <\/svg>\n            <\/div>\n            <div class=\"text\">\n                <h3>Pro Tip<\/h3>\n                <p>Write the radiographic finding into the note at every nonunion visit. A line such as &#8216;no bridging callus on X-ray dated March 4&#8217; gives the payer a concrete basis for the K character. It also saves your coder a phone call.<\/p>\n            <\/div>\n        <\/div>\n    \n\n\n<h2 id=\"h-what-the-record-has-to-show-at-a-follow-up-visit\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">What the record has to show at a follow-up visit<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A subsequent encounter is any visit after the patient has received active treatment, whoever provides it. That last part catches people out. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A second opinion with a different surgeon is still a subsequent encounter, because active treatment already happened somewhere else.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Documentation supporting S52.262K at that visit should include:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Date of the original injury and the treatment given then<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>An imaging report from this episode confirming no bony union<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Clinical findings such as tenderness, motion at the site, or functional loss<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Confirmation that the original fracture was closed, which is what justifies K over M or N<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The plan for the nonunion, whether that is surgery, a bone stimulator, or continued immobilization<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Notice how much of that list is about the past rather than today&#8217;s exam. Nonunion coding is a history problem as much as a clinical one, which is why scattered records cost so much time at the billing desk.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.pabau.com\/cdn\/attachments\/pulse\/content-engine\/diagnostic_codes\/icd-10-code-s52262k\/detailed-client-records-in-pabau.webp\" alt=\"Detailed client records in Pabau\"\/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\"><em>Pabau&#8217;s client records hold imaging dates, encounter type, and fracture status in one file, so the K character has support behind it.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:35px;width:800px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 id=\"h-how-the-claim-moves-and-where-it-stalls\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">How the claim moves, and where it stalls<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A nonunion claim takes a short route and breaks in predictable places. Here is the path from the exam room to payment:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>The provider documents the visit, the imaging finding, and the plan.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The coder checks the original fracture status, then assigns S52.262K.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The CPT code follows the procedure performed, never the diagnosis.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The claim goes out, with the imaging report ready if the payer asks.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The payer compares the 7th character against the notes on file.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Step two is where most claims stall. The original fracture status often sits in a letter from another practice, and nobody wants to open six scanned PDFs to find it. Step five is where the rest go, usually because the note says &#8220;not healing well&#8221; instead of naming nonunion.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 id=\"h-five-things-to-confirm-before-you-submit\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Five things to confirm before you submit<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>The word &#8220;left&#8221; appears in the clinical note, not just in the code<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>An imaging report from this episode states there is no union<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The original fracture was closed, so K is the right family<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Any earlier claim in the episode used D or G, and the note explains the change<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The CPT code matches the operative report rather than the diagnosis<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Run that check once and it becomes muscle memory. It also gives your front desk something concrete to chase before the claim leaves, which is faster than reworking a denial four weeks later.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.pabau.com\/cdn\/attachments\/pulse\/content-engine\/diagnostic_codes\/icd-10-code-s52262k\/track-claims-from-start-to-finish.webp\" alt=\"Track claims from start to finish\"\/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\"><em>Pabau&#8217;s claims tracking shows where each fracture claim sits, so a rejected nonunion visit gets reworked in days rather than weeks.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:35px;width:800px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 id=\"h-which-cpt-codes-travel-with-an-ulna-nonunion-repair\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Which CPT codes travel with an ulna nonunion repair<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Surgical management of an ulna shaft nonunion usually means open fixation, bone grafting, or both. The codes below are the ones that turn up most often alongside S52.262K at an operative encounter.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<table style=\"width:100%;border-collapse:separate;border-spacing:0;border-radius:12px;overflow:hidden;font-size:15px;line-height:1.5;margin:1.5em 0 2em;box-shadow:0 2px 12px rgba(0,0,0,0.08)\"><thead><tr><th style=\"background:#121D36;color:#fff;padding:14px 16px;text-align:left;font-weight:600;font-size:14px;letter-spacing:0.3px;border-bottom:2px solid #2BADD4\">CPT code<\/th><th style=\"background:#121D36;color:#fff;padding:14px 16px;text-align:left;font-weight:600;font-size:14px;letter-spacing:0.3px;border-bottom:2px solid #2BADD4\">Description<\/th><th style=\"background:#121D36;color:#fff;padding:14px 16px;text-align:left;font-weight:600;font-size:14px;letter-spacing:0.3px;border-bottom:2px solid #2BADD4\">When it applies<\/th><\/tr><\/thead><tbody><tr style=\"border-bottom:1px solid #E8ECF0\"><td style=\"padding:12px 16px;font-weight:600;color:#121D36\">25545<\/td><td style=\"padding:12px 16px;color:#374151\">Open treatment of ulnar shaft fracture<\/td><td style=\"padding:12px 16px;color:#374151\">Open fixation, including revision when instrumentation is exchanged<\/td><\/tr><tr style=\"border-bottom:1px solid #E8ECF0;background:#F9FAFB\"><td style=\"padding:12px 16px;font-weight:600;color:#121D36\">25337<\/td><td style=\"padding:12px 16px;color:#374151\">Soft tissue stabilization of an unstable distal ulna or distal radioulnar joint, with or without open reduction<\/td><td style=\"padding:12px 16px;color:#374151\">When joint instability follows the fracture and needs tendon transfer, graft, or tenodesis<\/td><\/tr><tr style=\"border-bottom:1px solid #E8ECF0\"><td style=\"padding:12px 16px;font-weight:600;color:#121D36\"><a href=\"https:\/\/pabau.com\/procedure-codes\/cpt-code-20900\/\">20900<\/a><\/td><td style=\"padding:12px 16px;color:#374151\">Bone graft, any donor area; minor or small<\/td><td style=\"padding:12px 16px;color:#374151\">When a small autologous graft is harvested and applied at the site<\/td><\/tr><tr style=\"border-bottom:1px solid #E8ECF0;background:#F9FAFB\"><td style=\"padding:12px 16px;font-weight:600;color:#121D36\"><a href=\"https:\/\/pabau.com\/procedure-codes\/cpt-code-20902\/\">20902<\/a><\/td><td style=\"padding:12px 16px;color:#374151\">Bone graft, any donor area; major or large<\/td><td style=\"padding:12px 16px;color:#374151\">When a larger graft is needed, such as an iliac crest harvest<\/td><\/tr><tr style=\"border-bottom:1px solid #E8ECF0\"><td style=\"padding:12px 16px;font-weight:600;color:#121D36\">20974<\/td><td style=\"padding:12px 16px;color:#374151\">Electrical stimulation to aid bone healing; noninvasive<\/td><td style=\"padding:12px 16px;color:#374151\">When a bone stimulator is prescribed instead of surgery<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Note that 25337 is a soft tissue procedure. It uses tendon transfer, graft, or tenodesis to stabilize the joint, so it is not the code for an implant or a prosthetic ulnar head. Coders reach for it wrongly more often than any other code in this group.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Operative detail decides the CPT code, so the report has to name the approach and any grafting separately. Practices running <a href=\"https:\/\/pabau.com\/industry\/sports-medicine-software\/\">sports medicine software<\/a> with structured operative templates capture those elements at the point of dictation, while the surgeon still remembers them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">When a bone stimulator is used without surgery, S52.262K supplies the medical necessity for 20974. Medicare and most commercial payers want imaging confirmation of nonunion behind that pairing, so attach the report or reference it by date.<\/p>\n\n\n        <div id=\"pro_tip\">\n            <div class=\"img\">\n                <svg width=\"42\" height=\"42\" viewBox=\"0 0 42 42\" fill=\"none\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\">\n                    <path fill-rule=\"evenodd\" clip-rule=\"evenodd\"\n                        d=\"M12.6383 19.5238C12.6632 21.2071 12.8734 22.9926 12.0685 24.5523C11.0341 26.8917 8.45076 28.169 7.56292 30.5918C6.63082 33.1061 7.19505 36.185 9.31371 37.9786C10.929 39.5678 13.4183 39.9873 15.6061 39.5463C17.4592 39.073 19.1049 37.8388 19.9706 36.1608C20.781 34.7141 20.7866 32.9904 20.5293 31.3985C20.1006 29.3092 18.3775 27.8705 16.9807 26.362C14.8814 24.1005 14.6684 20.6854 15.595 17.8915C16.4331 15.4768 19.0026 14.2344 20.0425 11.9461C20.7202 10.6769 20.7506 9.20327 20.6068 7.81304C20.1864 5.40098 18.3139 3.23631 15.8716 2.56674C13.9742 2.03969 11.8224 2.30052 10.1739 3.37614C8.70522 4.34688 7.5878 5.86618 7.28356 7.58178C6.76081 9.82981 7.53525 12.2822 9.20307 13.9118C10.7658 15.4741 12.4806 17.2273 12.6383 19.5238Z\"\n                        fill=\"#2BADD4\" \/>\n                    <path fill-rule=\"evenodd\" clip-rule=\"evenodd\"\n                        d=\"M22.7048 19.8387C22.6822 22.3279 24.4507 24.6234 26.7493 25.4682C28.0531 25.961 29.4725 25.9183 30.7989 25.5487C32.0575 24.9955 33.301 24.2237 34.0069 23.0092C34.8384 21.5811 35.2982 19.8286 34.7832 18.2094C34.3611 16.2507 32.8739 14.6541 31.0275 13.9426C28.6736 12.9595 25.8073 13.7942 24.1719 15.7001C23.2022 16.8366 22.6143 18.3326 22.7048 19.8387Z\"\n                        fill=\"#2BADD4\" \/>\n                <\/svg>\n            <\/div>\n            <div class=\"text\">\n                <h3>Pro Tip<\/h3>\n                <p>Pair S52.262K with the imaging code you actually billed, such as 73090 for a two-view forearm X-ray. The imaging date in the record anchors the nonunion finding and justifies surgery or a bone stimulator.<\/p>\n            <\/div>\n        <\/div>\n    \n\n\n<h2 id=\"h-where-s52-262k-sits-in-the-s52-family\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Where S52.262K sits in the S52 family<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">S52 covers fractures of the forearm, both radius and ulna, as set out in the <a href=\"https:\/\/icd.who.int\/browse10\/2019\/en\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">WHO ICD-10 browser<\/a>. Knowing the codes either side of S52.262K is the quickest way to avoid laterality slips and pattern mix-ups.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>S52.261K<\/strong>: Same fracture and outcome, right arm. Use when laterality is right.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>S52.263K<\/strong>: Same fracture and outcome, unspecified arm. Use only when the side genuinely is not documented.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>S52.242K<\/strong>: Displaced spiral fracture of shaft of ulna, left arm, subsequent encounter, closed, nonunion. Use when the pattern is spiral rather than segmental.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>S52.602K<\/strong>: Unspecified fracture of lower end of left ulna, subsequent encounter, closed, nonunion. Use when the nonunion is distal rather than in the shaft.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>S52.262P<\/strong>: Same site and side, but the outcome is malunion. Never swap K and P.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The same logic runs through the neighboring chapters. A radius shaft fracture with a different pattern takes <a href=\"https:\/\/pabau.com\/diagnostic-codes\/icd-10-code-s52356c\/\">S52.356C<\/a>, and a stalled finger fracture takes <a href=\"https:\/\/pabau.com\/diagnostic-codes\/icd-10-code-s62606k\/\">S62.606K<\/a>. Learn the character ladder once and it transfers everywhere.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Laterality remains the most common source of edits on these claims. The note has to say &#8220;left&#8221; in words for S52.262K to hold up. Capturing side as a set field on your <a href=\"https:\/\/pabau.com\/features\/patient-intake-software\/\">digital intake forms<\/a> at the first assessment removes the ambiguity before it reaches a coder months later.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.pabau.com\/cdn\/attachments\/pulse\/content-engine\/diagnostic_codes\/icd-10-code-s52262k\/customizable-consent-and-intake-forms.webp\" alt=\"Customizable consent and intake forms\"\/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\"><em>Pabau&#8217;s customizable intake forms capture laterality as a set field, so &#8220;left&#8221; reaches the coder without anyone rereading the chart.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:35px;width:800px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 id=\"h-how-pabau-keeps-fracture-records-claim-ready\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">How Pabau keeps fracture records claim-ready<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Most nonunion denials trace back to a record that was never built for the questions a payer asks. The imaging date sits inside a scanned PDF. The word &#8220;left&#8221; appears once, in a letter from the first surgeon. The encounter history lives in somebody&#8217;s memory.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Practice management software like Pabau keeps those pieces in one place. Treatment notes, imaging dates, consent forms, and photos all attach to the same client record as the appointment. Your <a href=\"https:\/\/pabau.com\/features\/medical-records-management\/\">clinical documentation<\/a> then reads as a timeline rather than a pile of files.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Billing then runs off that timeline instead of a separate spreadsheet. Your coder can see each visit and its fracture status in order, which makes the move from D to G to K easy to defend. Pair that with <a href=\"https:\/\/pabau.com\/features\/claims-management-software\/\">claims and billing tools<\/a> in the same system and fewer claims come back for rework.<\/p>\n\n\n        <div id=\"book_a_demo\">\n            <div class=\"left-side\">\n                <div class=\"logo\">\n                    <img decoding=\"async\"\n                        src=\"https:\/\/pabau.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Logo.svg\"\n                        alt=\"Logo\"\n                        loading=\"lazy\"\n                    \/>\n                <\/div>\n\n                <h3 class=\"heading\">\n                    Fewer claim errors on fracture follow-up visits                <\/h3>\n\n                <p class=\"description\">\n                    Pabau keeps fracture status, imaging dates, and encounter history in one client record, so your team can support the right ICD-10 character every time.                <\/p>\n\n                <div class=\"button-group\">\n                    <a href=\"\/book-demo\/\" class=\"btn btn-scale-effect btn-cta-color btn-md\">\n                        <span class=\"btn-text\">Book a demo<\/span>\n                        <div class=\"btn-icon btn-icon-right\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\n                            <svg\n                                width=\"14\"\n                                height=\"12\"\n                                viewBox=\"0 0 14 12\"\n                                fill=\"none\"\n                                xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\"\n                            >\n                                <path\n                                    d=\"M0.75 4.77295C0.335786 4.77295 0 5.10874 0 5.52295C0 5.93716 0.335786 6.27295 0.75 6.27295V5.52295V4.77295ZM13.2803 6.05328C13.5732 5.76039 13.5732 5.28551 13.2803 4.99262L8.50736 0.219648C8.21447 -0.073245 7.73959 -0.073245 7.4467 0.219648C7.15381 0.512542 7.15381 0.987415 7.4467 1.28031L11.6893 5.52295L7.4467 9.76559C7.15381 10.0585 7.15381 10.5334 7.4467 10.8263C7.73959 11.1191 8.21447 11.1191 8.50736 10.8263L13.2803 6.05328ZM0.75 5.52295V6.27295L12.75 6.27295V5.52295V4.77295L0.75 4.77295V5.52295Z\"\n                                    fill=\"currentColor\"\n                                ><\/path>\n                            <\/svg>\n                        <\/div>\n                    <\/a>\n                <\/div>\n            <\/div>\n\n            <div class=\"right-side\">\n                <img decoding=\"async\"\n                    src=\"https:\/\/pabau.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Home-Page-Concept-4.webp\"\n                    alt=\"Pabau practice management platform\"\n                    loading=\"lazy\"\n                \/>\n            <\/div>\n        <\/div>\n        \n\n\n<h2 id=\"h-conclusion\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Conclusion<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">S52.262K is a narrow code doing a specific job. It says the left ulna shaft broke in two places and the pieces moved. It says the fracture was closed at the start, and that months later the bone still has not joined. Each of those facts has to be visible in the chart.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The harder work sits in the record behind the code. When laterality, the imaging date, and the original closed status are easy to find, the claim clears first time. When a coder has to hunt through scanned letters for them, it usually does not.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Build the follow-up note once so it answers those questions every time, and nonunion stops being the visit that costs you three weeks of rework. <a href=\"https:\/\/pabau.com\/book-demo\/\">Book a demo<\/a> to see how Pabau keeps fracture documentation and billing in the same client record.<\/p>\n\n\n        <div id=\"expert_picks\">\n            <div class=\"header\">\n                                    <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/pabau.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/Expert-Picks.svg\" alt=\"Continue your research\" height=\"42\" width=\"42\">\n                                <h3>Continue your research<\/h3>\n            <\/div>\n            <div class=\"content\">\n                                                            <div class=\"item\">\n                            <div>\n                                <svg width=\"20\" height=\"27\" viewBox=\"0 0 20 27\" fill=\"none\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\">\n                                    <path\n                                        d=\"M18.6223 14.3857C19.1246 13.8975 19.1246 13.1045 18.6223 12.6162L12.1938 6.36621C11.6915 5.87793 10.8759 5.87793 10.3737 6.36621C9.87143 6.85449 9.87143 7.64746 10.3737 8.13574L14.6125 12.2529H2.28571C1.57455 12.2529 1 12.8115 1 13.5029C1 14.1943 1.57455 14.7529 2.28571 14.7529H14.6085L10.3777 18.8701C9.87545 19.3584 9.87545 20.1514 10.3777 20.6396C10.8799 21.1279 11.6955 21.1279 12.1978 20.6396L18.6263 14.3896L18.6223 14.3857Z\"\n                                        fill=\"#54B2D3\" \/>\n                                <\/svg>\n                            <\/div>\n                            <p><strong>Coding a hand fracture at a later visit?<\/strong> <a href=\"https:\/\/pabau.com\/diagnostic-codes\/icd-10-code-s62211d\/\">S62.211D<\/a> walks through the same subsequent-encounter logic on a thumb base fracture.<\/p>\n                        <\/div>\n                                                                                <div class=\"item\">\n                            <div>\n                                <svg width=\"20\" height=\"27\" viewBox=\"0 0 20 27\" fill=\"none\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\">\n                                    <path\n                                        d=\"M18.6223 14.3857C19.1246 13.8975 19.1246 13.1045 18.6223 12.6162L12.1938 6.36621C11.6915 5.87793 10.8759 5.87793 10.3737 6.36621C9.87143 6.85449 9.87143 7.64746 10.3737 8.13574L14.6125 12.2529H2.28571C1.57455 12.2529 1 12.8115 1 13.5029C1 14.1943 1.57455 14.7529 2.28571 14.7529H14.6085L10.3777 18.8701C9.87545 19.3584 9.87545 20.1514 10.3777 20.6396C10.8799 21.1279 11.6955 21.1279 12.1978 20.6396L18.6263 14.3896L18.6223 14.3857Z\"\n                                        fill=\"#54B2D3\" \/>\n                                <\/svg>\n                            <\/div>\n                            <p><strong>Need the initial-encounter version of this pattern?<\/strong> <a href=\"https:\/\/pabau.com\/diagnostic-codes\/icd-10-code-s62011a\/\">S62.011A<\/a> covers a displaced scaphoid fracture at the first treating visit.<\/p>\n                        <\/div>\n                                                                                <div class=\"item\">\n                            <div>\n                                <svg width=\"20\" height=\"27\" viewBox=\"0 0 20 27\" fill=\"none\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\">\n                                    <path\n                                        d=\"M18.6223 14.3857C19.1246 13.8975 19.1246 13.1045 18.6223 12.6162L12.1938 6.36621C11.6915 5.87793 10.8759 5.87793 10.3737 6.36621C9.87143 6.85449 9.87143 7.64746 10.3737 8.13574L14.6125 12.2529H2.28571C1.57455 12.2529 1 12.8115 1 13.5029C1 14.1943 1.57455 14.7529 2.28571 14.7529H14.6085L10.3777 18.8701C9.87545 19.3584 9.87545 20.1514 10.3777 20.6396C10.8799 21.1279 11.6955 21.1279 12.1978 20.6396L18.6263 14.3896L18.6223 14.3857Z\"\n                                        fill=\"#54B2D3\" \/>\n                                <\/svg>\n                            <\/div>\n                            <p><strong>Documenting an upper limb injury higher up the arm?<\/strong> <a href=\"https:\/\/pabau.com\/diagnostic-codes\/icd-10-code-s43111a\/\">S43.111A<\/a> explains how to code an acromioclavicular joint subluxation.<\/p>\n                        <\/div>\n                                                                                <div class=\"item\">\n                            <div>\n                                <svg width=\"20\" height=\"27\" viewBox=\"0 0 20 27\" fill=\"none\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\">\n                                    <path\n                                        d=\"M18.6223 14.3857C19.1246 13.8975 19.1246 13.1045 18.6223 12.6162L12.1938 6.36621C11.6915 5.87793 10.8759 5.87793 10.3737 6.36621C9.87143 6.85449 9.87143 7.64746 10.3737 8.13574L14.6125 12.2529H2.28571C1.57455 12.2529 1 12.8115 1 13.5029C1 14.1943 1.57455 14.7529 2.28571 14.7529H14.6085L10.3777 18.8701C9.87545 19.3584 9.87545 20.1514 10.3777 20.6396C10.8799 21.1279 11.6955 21.1279 12.1978 20.6396L18.6263 14.3896L18.6223 14.3857Z\"\n                                        fill=\"#54B2D3\" \/>\n                                <\/svg>\n                            <\/div>\n                            <p><strong>Want a cleaner follow-up note?<\/strong> <a href=\"https:\/\/pabau.com\/templates\/clinical-progress-notes\/\">Clinical progress notes<\/a> gives you a structure that records status and plan in a consistent order.<\/p>\n                        <\/div>\n                                                                                <div class=\"item\">\n                            <div>\n                                <svg width=\"20\" height=\"27\" viewBox=\"0 0 20 27\" fill=\"none\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\">\n                                    <path\n                                        d=\"M18.6223 14.3857C19.1246 13.8975 19.1246 13.1045 18.6223 12.6162L12.1938 6.36621C11.6915 5.87793 10.8759 5.87793 10.3737 6.36621C9.87143 6.85449 9.87143 7.64746 10.3737 8.13574L14.6125 12.2529H2.28571C1.57455 12.2529 1 12.8115 1 13.5029C1 14.1943 1.57455 14.7529 2.28571 14.7529H14.6085L10.3777 18.8701C9.87545 19.3584 9.87545 20.1514 10.3777 20.6396C10.8799 21.1279 11.6955 21.1279 12.1978 20.6396L18.6263 14.3896L18.6223 14.3857Z\"\n                                        fill=\"#54B2D3\" \/>\n                                <\/svg>\n                            <\/div>\n                            <p><strong>Looking for more musculoskeletal exam detail?<\/strong> <a href=\"https:\/\/pabau.com\/blog\/eversion-stress-test\/\">Eversion stress test<\/a> shows how to perform and record a structured joint assessment.<\/p>\n                        <\/div>\n                                                <\/div>\n        <\/div>\n    \n\n\n<h2 id=\"h-frequently-asked-questions\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Frequently asked questions<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"schema-faq wp-block-yoast-faq-block\">\n<div class=\"schema-faq-section\" id=\"faq-question-1755000000001\"><h3 class=\"schema-faq-question\">Is S52.262K a billable code?<\/h3> <p class=\"schema-faq-answer\">Yes. S52.262K is a complete seven-character code, so it stands on its own for reimbursement. Codes left at the S52.262 level without a 7th character are not billable and will reject.<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"schema-faq-section\" id=\"faq-question-1755000000002\"><h3 class=\"schema-faq-question\">Does S52.262K need a placeholder X?<\/h3> <p class=\"schema-faq-answer\">No. S52.262 already runs to six characters, so K sits straight into the seventh slot. Placeholder X is only needed when a code is shorter than six characters and still requires a 7th.<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"schema-faq-section\" id=\"faq-question-1755000000003\"><h3 class=\"schema-faq-question\">Should an aftercare Z code go with it?<\/h3> <p class=\"schema-faq-answer\">No. Aftercare Z codes are not used for injuries. The 7th character already tells the payer this is follow-up care, so adding Z47.89 or similar just repeats that information.<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"schema-faq-section\" id=\"faq-question-1755000000004\"><h3 class=\"schema-faq-question\">Do I still report an external cause code?<\/h3> <p class=\"schema-faq-answer\">You can, though there is no national requirement to. External cause codes carry their own 7th character, and D marks a subsequent encounter. Check payer and state rules, since some registries ask for them.<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"schema-faq-section\" id=\"faq-question-1755000000005\"><h3 class=\"schema-faq-question\">Can S52.262K be the primary diagnosis?<\/h3> <p class=\"schema-faq-answer\">Yes. Where the nonunion is the reason for the visit, it leads the claim. List conditions that affect healing, such as diabetes or tobacco use, after it as secondary diagnoses.<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>ICD-10 code S52.262K describes a displaced segmental fracture of the left ulna shaft at a subsequent encounter, where the closed fracture has not united. It is the code you reach for when the follow-up X-ray still shows a clean line across the bone. Segmental fractures break the ulna in at least two places and leave [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":85,"featured_media":148239,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_yoast_wpseo_linkdex":"86","_yoast_wpseo_content_score":"90","_yoast_wpseo_is_cornerstone":"","_yoast_wpseo_keywordsynonyms":"[\"\",\"\",\"\",\"\",\"\"]","_yoast_wpseo_focuskw_text_input":"","_seo_original_html":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[1549,1550],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-148088","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-diagnostic-codes","category-icd-10-cm"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v28.3 (Yoast SEO v28.3) - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-premium-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>ICD-10 code S52.262K: Ulna shaft nonunion coding guide<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"S52.262K codes a displaced segmental left ulna shaft fracture that has not united at follow-up. 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