ICD-10 Guide

Right Radial Head Fracture

ICD-10 Coding for Right Radial Head Fracture(S52.121A)

PRIMARY SPECIALTYOrthopedics

COMPLEXITYHigh

LAST UPDATED09/15/2025

Sam Tuffun, PT, DPT

Physical Therapist | Medical Coding & Billing Contributor

Diagnosis Overview

What is Right Radial Head Fracture?

Essential facts and insights about Right Radial Head Fracture

Key Clinical Considerations:

Pain and swelling around the elbow
Limited range of motion in the forearm
Tenderness over the lateral aspect of the elbow

Clinical Information

Clinical Criteria & Documentation Requirements

Patient history including mechanism of injury
Physical examination findings detailing range of motion
Imaging results such as X-rays confirming fracture

Coding Guidelines

Usage Guidelines & Examples

Ensure correct laterality is documented to avoid coding errors.
Common errors include misclassifying the type of fracture.

Code Exclusions

Important Exclusions

Fractures of the ulna or other elbow injuries
Non-displaced fractures may have different coding

Specialty Focus

Primary Specialty

Orthopedics

Specialty Applications

Adults and children with elbow injuries
Emergency departments and orthopedic clinics

Coding Complexity

High Complexity

This diagnosis requires careful attention to:

Comprehensive clinical documentation
Accurate code selection based on clinical criteria
Proper exclusion considerations
Specialty-specific coding guidelines

Documentation

Documentation Templates

Billing Information

Billing Considerations

Ensure proper documentation for billing
Verify code specificity requirements
Check for any additional codes needed
Review payer-specific guidelines

Common Issues

Insufficient clinical documentation
Incorrect code selection
Missing supporting diagnoses
Timing and frequency documentation

Frequently Asked Questions

Documentation requirements?

Include detailed patient history, physical exam findings, and imaging results.

Billing considerations?

Ensure accurate coding to reflect the specific type of fracture and encounter.

Right Radial Head Fracture

Diagnosis Overview

Key Clinical Considerations:

Clinical Information

Clinical Criteria & Documentation Requirements

Coding Guidelines

Usage Guidelines & Examples

Code Exclusions

Important Exclusions

Related ICD-10 Codes

Related CPT Codes

Specialty Focus

Primary Specialty

Specialty Applications

Coding Complexity

Documentation

Documentation Templates

Billing Information

Billing Considerations

Common Issues

Frequently Asked Questions

Documentation requirements?

Billing considerations?

Right Radial Head Fracture

Diagnosis Overview

Key Clinical Considerations:

Clinical Information

Clinical Criteria & Documentation Requirements

Coding Guidelines

Usage Guidelines & Examples

Code Exclusions

Important Exclusions

Related ICD-10 Codes

Related CPT Codes

Specialty Focus

Primary Specialty

Specialty Applications

Coding Complexity

Documentation

Documentation Templates

Billing Information

Billing Considerations

Common Issues

Frequently Asked Questions

Documentation requirements?

Billing considerations?