S72.131B Displaced apophyseal fracture of right femur, initial encounter for open fracture type I or II

ICD-10-CM S72.131B: Displaced apophyseal fracture of right femur, initial encounter for open fracture type I or II

ICD-10-CM code S72.131B identifies a displaced apophyseal fracture of the right femur during an initial encounter for an open fracture classified as type I or II. The terminology record classifies this concept under the semantic type of Injury or Poisoning. This specific code distinguishes the initial encounter from subsequent encounters that document routine or delayed healing. 1 3

Plain-language overview

This diagnosis code represents a specific injury to the right femur documented as a displaced apophyseal fracture, captured during the initial encounter for an open fracture type I or II. 1

What this code represents

The official terminology record assigns the semantic type of Injury or Poisoning to S72.131B, and its parent concept is the broader code for a displaced apophyseal fracture of the right femur. 1

The seventh character B in this code specifies the initial encounter for an open fracture type I or II, distinguishing it from subsequent encounter codes that address routine or delayed healing phases. 1 3

Coding details

The code S72.131B is an active concept in the ICD-10-CM version 2026 terminology and possesses narrower concepts within the hierarchical structure of the classification system. 1

A related code, S72.131C, is listed alongside S72.131B in a Medicare billing and coding article, but the source truncates the full description of the subsequent code. 5

Documentation considerations

The official terminology record for S72.131B includes an abbreviation noting it represents the initial encounter for an open fracture type I or II of the right femur. 1

Clinical context

Open femur fractures can be categorized by the Gustillo-Anderson classification system, and aggressive management is necessary due to the mechanism of injury and the amount of soft tissue violated. 2

What the sources add

While the terminology record defines the code structure and semantic type, the clinical literature provides operational context regarding the Gustillo-Anderson classification system used to categorize open femur fractures. 1 2

Coverage and utilization context

The code S72.131B appears in a Medicare billing and coding article for major joint replacement, establishing its presence in payer documents alongside the related S72.131C code. 5

Sources

1. ICD-10-CM S72.131B terminology record — National Cancer Institute Enterprise Vocabulary Services; accessed 2026-07-27.
2. Bookshelf — ncbi.nlm.nih.gov; accessed 2026-07-27.
3. ICD-10-CM/PCS MS-DRG v38.1 Definitions Manual — cms.gov; accessed 2026-07-27.
4. EVS Explore — evsexplore.semantics.cancer.gov; accessed 2026-07-27.
5. Article - Billing and Coding: Major Joint Replacement (Hip and Knee) (A57765) — cms.gov; accessed 2026-07-27.
6. Pediatric Femur Fractures Treatment & Management — emedicine.medscape.com; accessed 2026-07-27.