2025 ICD-10-CM code S79.9
(Active) Effective Date: N/A Revision Date: N/A Deletion Date: N/A Injury - Other and unspecified injuries of hip and thigh Injury, poisoning and certain other consequences of external causes (S00-T88) Feed
Unspecified injury of the hip and/or thigh.
Modifiers may apply based on the circumstances of the encounter and the specific services rendered.Refer to the appropriate modifier guidelines for details.
Medical necessity is established based on the clinical presentation and severity of the injury.The documentation should clearly support the need for diagnostic testing, treatment, and any ongoing management of the injury.
Diagnosis and treatment of hip and thigh injuries requires a thorough patient history, physical examination, and appropriate imaging.The physician's role may include ordering and interpreting diagnostic tests, developing a treatment plan (conservative or surgical), prescribing medication, and overseeing rehabilitation.
- Injury, poisoning and certain other consequences of external causes (S00-T88)
- Injuries to the hip and thigh (S70-S79)
In simple words: This code means there's been an injury to the hip or thigh area, but the exact type of injury isn't specified. It could be from a fall, accident, or other trauma.The doctor will need to figure out what's wrong to provide the best treatment.
Unspecified injury of the hip and/or thigh refers to damage caused by trauma from various sources, such as falls, crush injuries, traffic accidents, child abuse, sports, or overuse.The specific type of injury is not documented.Clinical presentation can vary widely, ranging from pain and swelling to more severe complications like avascular necrosis. Diagnosis relies on patient history, physical examination, and imaging studies (X-rays, MRI, potentially arthrography). Treatment may involve conservative measures (RICE), bracing/casting, surgery, medication (analgesics, NSAIDs, corticosteroids, muscle relaxants, thrombolytics/anticoagulants), and physical therapy.
Example 1: A patient falls from a ladder, sustaining an unspecified injury to their hip.The physician performs a physical exam and orders X-rays, which reveal a nondisplaced fracture. The injury is coded as S79.9.A secondary code from Chapter 20 is used to specify the cause (fall from a ladder)., A child is brought to the ER after a car accident.The child has an unspecified injury to their thigh.While X-rays are negative for fractures, there is significant soft tissue swelling and bruising.S79.9 is used for the unspecified injury to the thigh, with an external cause code documenting the accident., During a sporting event, an athlete suffers a blunt force trauma to their hip.Initial imaging is inconclusive, so the injury is documented as S79.9.Later, an MRI reveals a muscle tear.Additional codes will be needed to reflect the specific injury to the muscles and the external cause of the injury.
Detailed patient history including the mechanism of injury, physical examination findings (including range of motion, tenderness, swelling, and neurological assessment), imaging reports (X-rays, MRI, etc.), and treatment notes (including medications, interventions, and any follow up plans).
** If a more specific injury code is available, it should be used instead of S79.9.Always use appropriate external cause codes to specify the cause of injury. The 7th character (A, D, or S) should be used to indicate the encounter type.
- Payment Status: Active
- Specialties:Orthopedics, Emergency Medicine, Trauma Surgery
- Place of Service:Office, Emergency Room - Hospital, Inpatient Hospital, Outpatient Hospital, Ambulatory Surgical Center