S79.139A
Salter-Harris Type III physeal fracture of lower end of unspecified femur, initial encounter for closed fracture
Billable FY2026 2025-10-01 → 2026-09-30
This is the unspecified option. 5 more
specific codes sit alongside it. Worth
checking whether the documentation supports one of them.
Exclusions 6 never code together
S70-S79block
Excludes2 — not included here, but the patient may have both. Code both when documented.
7th character 6
A initial encounter for closed fracture this code
D subsequent encounter for fracture with routine healing
G subsequent encounter for fracture with delayed healing
K subsequent encounter for fracture with nonunion
P subsequent encounter for fracture with malunion
S sequela
Instructional notes 4
S79code
Notes
- A fracture not indicated as open or closed should be coded to closed
S00-T88chapter
Notes
- Use secondary code(s) from Chapter 20, External causes of morbidity, to indicate cause of injury. Codes within the T section that include the external cause do not require an additional external cause code
- The chapter uses the S-section for coding different types of injuries related to single body regions and the T-section to cover injuries to unspecified body regions as well as poisoning and certain other consequences of external causes.
Use additional code
- code to identify any retained foreign body, if applicable (Z18.-)Z18.-
Index entries leading here 1
Alongside this code 5 same parent — S79.139
S79.139D Sltr-haris Type III physl fx low end unsp femr, 7thD S79.139G Sltr-haris Type III physl fx low end unsp femr, 7thG S79.139K Sltr-haris Type III physl fx low end unsp femr, 7thK S79.139P Sltr-haris Type III physl fx low end unsp femr, 7thP S79.139S Sltr-haris Type III physl fx lower end of unsp femur, sqla
Additional references
AHA Coding Clinic® Licence required
Official coding advice for this code. Published by the American Hospital Association. Not included in this installation.