2025 ICD-10-CM code S32.9
(Active) Effective Date: N/A Injury, poisoning and certain other consequences of external causes - S30-S39 19 Feed
Fracture of unspecified parts of the lumbosacral spine and pelvis.
The 7th character is required to indicate the episode of care (A, B, D, G, K, or S).
Medical necessity is established by the presence of a fracture due to trauma or injury.
Physicians diagnose this condition through physical examination, including range of motion and neurological tests, along with imaging studies like X-rays, CT scans, and MRIs. Treatment can range from conservative measures like rest, bracing, and pain management to surgical intervention for unstable fractures or those with neurological compromise.
In simple words: This code indicates a broken bone in the lower back/pelvic area, but the exact location isn't specified in the medical records.It could be a break in any of the bones that make up the lumbosacral spine (lower back) or pelvis (hip area).
This code represents a fracture in which the specific part of the lumbosacral spine or pelvis is not specified in the medical documentation. This can include fractures of the lumbar vertebrae, sacrum, coccyx, ilium, ischium, or pubis. It is used when the documentation does not provide enough detail to assign a more specific code.The injury can occur with or without neurological involvement.
Example 1: A patient presents to the ER after a motor vehicle accident with lower back pain. Imaging reveals a fracture involving the pelvis, but the specific bone is not clearly identified. S32.9 is used., An elderly patient falls at home and experiences pain in the hip area. X-rays show a pelvic fracture, but the location is not clearly documented. S32.9 is applied., An athlete sustains a sports-related injury and reports pain in their lower back and pelvic region. Imaging reveals a fracture of an unspecified part of the lumbosacral spine. S32.9 is assigned.
Documentation should include details of the traumatic event, physical examination findings (including tenderness, pain, bruising, swelling, crepitus, neurovascular assessment, and assessment for other injuries), and imaging results.If the specific site of the fracture is identified through imaging, the more specific code should be used.
** This code excludes birth trauma (P10-P15) and obstetric trauma (O70-O71).
- Specialties:Emergency Medicine, Orthopedic Surgery, Trauma Surgery
- Place of Service:Emergency Room - Hospital, Inpatient Hospital, Office