FY2027 ICD-10-CM reference
S72: Fracture of femur
By the HCC Buddy Coding Team
The official ICD-10-CM descriptor is Fracture of femur. The FY2027 annual edition starts October 1, 2026. Check the edition that applies to the encounter or inpatient discharge, including any April update.
Nonbillable heading. Verified against the official FY2027 order file.
More specific FY2027 codes
- S72.0: Fracture of head and neck of femurNonbillable heading
- S72.1: Pertrochanteric fractureNonbillable heading
- S72.2: Subtrochanteric fracture of femurNonbillable heading
- S72.3: Fracture of shaft of femurNonbillable heading
- S72.4: Fracture of lower end of femurNonbillable heading
- S72.8: Other fracture of femurNonbillable heading
- S72.9: Unspecified fracture of femurNonbillable heading
FY2027 Tabular instructions
Instructions below include applicable chapter, section and parent-code notes. Each note identifies where it appears in the official source.
Instructional note
Use secondary code(s) from Chapter 20, External causes of morbidity, to indicate cause of injury. Codes within the T section that include the external cause do not require an additional external cause code
Source: S00-T88 (chapter, inherited).
Instructional note
code to identify any retained foreign body, if applicable (Z18.-)
Source: S00-T88 (chapter, inherited).
Excludes2
birth trauma (P10-P15)
Source: S00-T88 (chapter, inherited).
Excludes2
obstetric trauma (O70-O71)
Source: S00-T88 (chapter, inherited).
Instructional note
The chapter uses the S-section for coding different types of injuries related to single body regions and the T-section to cover injuries to unspecified body regions as well as poisoning and certain other consequences of external causes.
Source: S00-T88 (chapter, inherited).
Excludes2
burns and corrosions (T20-T32)
Source: S70-S79 (section, inherited).
Excludes2
frostbite (T33-T34)
Source: S70-S79 (section, inherited).
Excludes2
snake bite (T63.0-)
Source: S70-S79 (section, inherited).
Excludes2
venomous insect bite or sting (T63.4-)
Source: S70-S79 (section, inherited).
Instructional note
A fracture not indicated as displaced or nondisplaced should be coded to displaced
Source: S72 (category, direct).
Instructional note
A fracture not indicated as open or closed should be coded to closed
Source: S72 (category, direct).
Instructional note
The open fracture designations are based on the Gustilo open fracture classification
Source: S72 (category, direct).
Excludes1
traumatic amputation of hip and thigh (S78.-)
Source: S72 (category, direct).
Excludes2
fracture of lower leg and ankle (S82.-)
Source: S72 (category, direct).
Excludes2
fracture of foot (S92.-)
Source: S72 (category, direct).
Excludes2
periprosthetic fracture of prosthetic implant of hip (M97.0-)
Source: S72 (category, direct).
Seventh-character instruction
The appropriate 7th character is to be added to all codes from category S72
Source: S72 (category, direct).
Instructional note
initial encounter for closed fracture
Source: S72 (category, direct).
Instructional note
initial encounter for open fracture type I or II
Source: S72 (category, direct).
Instructional note
initial encounter for open fracture type IIIA, IIIB, or IIIC
Source: S72 (category, direct).
Instructional note
subsequent encounter for closed fracture with routine healing
Source: S72 (category, direct).
Instructional note
subsequent encounter for open fracture type I or II with routine healing
Source: S72 (category, direct).
Instructional note
subsequent encounter for open fracture type IIIA, IIIB, or IIIC with routine healing
Source: S72 (category, direct).
Instructional note
subsequent encounter for closed fracture with delayed healing
Source: S72 (category, direct).
Instructional note
subsequent encounter for open fracture type I or II with delayed healing
Source: S72 (category, direct).
Instructional note
subsequent encounter for open fracture type IIIA, IIIB, or IIIC with delayed healing
Source: S72 (category, direct).
Instructional note
subsequent encounter for closed fracture with nonunion
Source: S72 (category, direct).
Instructional note
subsequent encounter for open fracture type I or II with nonunion
Source: S72 (category, direct).
Instructional note
subsequent encounter for open fracture type IIIA, IIIB, or IIIC with nonunion
Source: S72 (category, direct).
Instructional note
subsequent encounter for closed fracture with malunion
Source: S72 (category, direct).
Instructional note
subsequent encounter for open fracture type I or II with malunion
Source: S72 (category, direct).
Instructional note
subsequent encounter for open fracture type IIIA, IIIB, or IIIC with malunion
Source: S72 (category, direct).
Instructional note
sequela
Source: S72 (category, direct).
7th Character Definition Notes
initial encounter for open fracture NOS
Source: S72 (category). Review the source family’s seventh-character definitions for this note’s scope.
Seventh-character definitions
- A: initial encounter for closed fracture
- B: initial encounter for open fracture type I or II
- C: initial encounter for open fracture type IIIA, IIIB, or IIIC
- D: subsequent encounter for closed fracture with routine healing
- E: subsequent encounter for open fracture type I or II with routine healing
- F: subsequent encounter for open fracture type IIIA, IIIB, or IIIC with routine healing
- G: subsequent encounter for closed fracture with delayed healing
- H: subsequent encounter for open fracture type I or II with delayed healing
- J: subsequent encounter for open fracture type IIIA, IIIB, or IIIC with delayed healing
- K: subsequent encounter for closed fracture with nonunion
- M: subsequent encounter for open fracture type I or II with nonunion
- N: subsequent encounter for open fracture type IIIA, IIIB, or IIIC with nonunion
- P: subsequent encounter for closed fracture with malunion
- Q: subsequent encounter for open fracture type I or II with malunion
- R: subsequent encounter for open fracture type IIIA, IIIB, or IIIC with malunion
- S: sequela
Compare the FY2027 additions, removals and billable-status changes
What does S72 mean in FY2027?
The official ICD-10-CM descriptor is Fracture of femur. The FY2027 annual edition starts October 1, 2026. Check the edition that applies to the encounter or inpatient discharge, including any April update.
Is S72 billable in FY2027?
The FY2027 order file marks S72 as a nonbillable heading. Select a complete billable child code.
Does S72 map to an HCC?
Risk-model mapping is not applicable to this nonbillable heading. Check a complete billable child code.
Source: CMS FY2027 ICD-10-CM order file. Payment model: CMS CY 2027 Rate Announcement. Read the FY2027 Official Guidelines.
Review the FY2026 April edition