S79.139K Salter-Harris Type III physeal fracture of lower end of unspecified femur, subsequent encounter for fracture with nonunion

Billable ICD-10-CM code, FY2026.

Built from S79.139 with 7th character K (subsequent encounter for fracture with nonunion).

Applies from S79 Other and unspecified injuries of hip and thigh

7th character note

• The appropriate 7th character is to be added to each code from subcategories S79.0 and S79.1

Notes

• A fracture not indicated as open or closed should be coded to closed

7th character required

• A — initial encounter for closed fracture
• 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

Medicare Code Edits (MCE v43.1 (April 2026))

• Unspecified code (laterality): Unspecified codes for which a more specific code identifying laterality (right, left, bilateral) exists within the same code family.

Code annotations containing back-references to S79.139K

Back-references to S79.1

• Type 2 Excludes: S72.0 Fracture of head and neck of femur ("physeal fracture of lower end of femur (S79.1-)")
• Type 2 Excludes: S72.4 Fracture of lower end of femur ("physeal fracture of lower end of femur (S79.1-)")

Nearby codes

• S79.132S Salter-Harris Type III physeal fracture of lower end of left femur, sequela
• S79.139 Salter-Harris Type III physeal fracture of lower end of unspecified femur
• S79.139A Salter-Harris Type III physeal fracture of lower end of unspecified femur, initial encounter for closed fracture
• S79.139D Salter-Harris Type III physeal fracture of lower end of unspecified femur, subsequent encounter for fracture with routine healing
• S79.139G Salter-Harris Type III physeal fracture of lower end of unspecified femur, subsequent encounter for fracture with delayed healing
• S79.139K Salter-Harris Type III physeal fracture of lower end of unspecified femur, subsequent encounter for fracture with nonunion (this code)
• S79.139P Salter-Harris Type III physeal fracture of lower end of unspecified femur, subsequent encounter for fracture with malunion
• S79.139S Salter-Harris Type III physeal fracture of lower end of unspecified femur, sequela
• S79.14 Salter-Harris Type IV physeal fracture of lower end of femur
• S79.141 Salter-Harris Type IV physeal fracture of lower end of right femur
• S79.141A Salter-Harris Type IV physeal fracture of lower end of right femur, initial encounter for closed fracture