ICD 10 CM S72.90 | Description & Clinical Information

ICD 10 S72.90 describes a medical condition characterized by an unspecified fracture of the femur or thigh bone, which can occur due to various reasons such as falls, traffic accidents, sports injuries, osteoporosis, cancer, or child abuse, and is identified by a break or discontinuity in the thigh bone, with or without displacement of the fracture fragments, without any specification of the type of fracture or the involvement of the right or left femur.

Official Description Of S72.90

The ICD 10 CM book defines ICD 10 code S72.90 as:

When To Use S72.90

The diagnosis described by the ICD 10 CM S72.90 code pertains to an unspecified fracture of the femur bone that can result in significant pain and mobility issues. Patients who sustain a femur fracture may experience pain when they move, put weight on the affected leg or thigh, and show signs of swelling, tenderness, and bruising over the injury site. In some cases, a broken femur can also cause numbness and tingling if there is accompanying nerve or blood vessel damage.

To diagnose this condition, medical providers rely on several diagnostic tools, such as a patient’s medical history, physical examination, laboratory studies, and imaging techniques such as X-rays, CT scans, MRI, and bone scans. These diagnostic tools help determine the extent of the injury and provide an accurate diagnosis of the fracture.

Treatment of femur fractures depends largely on the severity of the fracture. For stable and closed fractures, doctors may use skeletal traction or apply a splint or cast to restrict limb movement. On the other hand, unstable fractures require more invasive treatments such as open or closed reduction and fixation, where surgical intervention is necessary to set the bone in the correct alignment. Open fractures, where the bone comes through the skin or the wound is visible, require immediate surgery to clean and debride the wound and prevent infection.

Pain relief is essential for patients who have sustained a femur fracture. Doctors prescribe narcotic analgesics or non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs to alleviate pain, swelling, and inflammation caused by the injury. Pain management is crucial to maintaining patient comfort and aiding in the recovery process.

As the patient heals and the bone begins to mend, they may require physical therapy to regain flexibility, strength, and range of motion. Physical therapy is an essential part of the recovery process as it helps return the patient to their pre-injury level of function.

In conclusion, the diagnosis code S72.90 refers to an unspecified fracture of the femur bone that can cause severe pain and mobility issues. Timely diagnosis and appropriate treatment are vital in promoting patient comfort and facilitating their recovery. A multidisciplinary approach involving various medical specialists, such as orthopedic surgeons, pain management specialists, and physical therapists, is necessary to manage and treat femur fractures effectively.