S02.621B Fracture of subcondylar process of right mandible, initial encounter for open fracture

ICD-10-CM S02.621B: Fracture of subcondylar process of right mandible, initial encounter for open fracture

ICD-10-CM code S02.621B identifies an initial encounter for an open fracture of the right mandible's subcondylar process. The mandible is a frequently fractured facial bone, and subcondylar injuries can cause the jaw to deviate toward the fractured side. This code is classified as an injury or poisoning concept. 1 2 3

Plain-language overview

The mandible is one of the most frequently fractured facial bones, and subcondylar fractures can cause the jaw to deviate toward the injured side, resulting in premature contact and an open bite on the normal side. 2

What this code represents

Code S02.621B is an active terminology concept representing the initial encounter for an open fracture of the right mandibular subcondylar process, and its semantic type is classified as an injury or poisoning. 1 3

Coding details

The parent concept for S02.621B is S02.621, which denotes a fracture of the subcondylar process of the right mandible, and the target code uses a seventh character B to specify the initial encounter for an open fracture. 1

Documentation considerations

The terminology record for S02.621B specifies the right side, the subcondylar process location, the open fracture encounter, and the initial encounter status as the defining elements of this active diagnosis code. 1

Clinical context

Mandibular fractures with mucosal, gingival, or tooth socket disruption are considered open fractures, and these injuries are at risk for wound contamination with oral flora and may be complicated by teeth in the fracture line. 2

Because the mandible frequently fractures in more than one location, it is critical to evaluate patients with mandibular fractures for other associated traumas, including cervical spine and traumatic brain injuries. 2

What the sources add

While the terminology record establishes the code hierarchy and semantic type, the clinical literature adds operational context by explaining that operative intervention for mandible fractures is relatively common due to the complexity of the structure's anatomy and function. 1 2

The terminology record provides the official code definition and parent hierarchy, whereas the clinical text explains the functional impairment of subcondylar fractures, such as jaw deviation and premature dental contact on the fractured side. 1 2

Sources

1. ICD-10-CM S02.621B terminology record — National Cancer Institute Enterprise Vocabulary Services; accessed 2026-07-27.
2. Bookshelf — ncbi.nlm.nih.gov; accessed 2026-07-27.
3. EVS Explore — evsexplore.semantics.cancer.gov; accessed 2026-07-27.
4. S02.621A — Fracture of subcondylar process of right mandible, initial encounter for closed fracture | ICD-10 Code · Eleplan — eleplan.com; accessed 2026-07-27.