S52.21 – Greenstick fracture of shaft of ulna

ICD-10-CM 2027 diagnosis code · Injuries to the elbow and forearm

Non-billable header

ICD-10-CM code S52.21

Code: S52.21 (claims format: S5221)
Description: Greenstick fracture of shaft of ulna
Billable: No – use a more specific code below
Valid for: Dates of service October 1, 2026 – September 30, 2027 (FY2027)
Chapter: 19. Injury, poisoning and certain other consequences of external causes (S00-T88)
Block: S50-S59 Injuries to the elbow and forearm
Parent codes: S52 › S52.2

Billable codes under S52.21

S52.21 is a header code and cannot be used on claims. Choose the most specific code:

S52.211 – Greenstick fracture of shaft of right ulnaHeader (more codes below)
S52.212 – Greenstick fracture of shaft of left ulnaHeader (more codes below)
S52.219 – Greenstick fracture of shaft of unspecified ulnaHeader (more codes below)

7th character values

Codes in this category need a 7th character to describe the encounter or episode of care (use placeholder X for empty positions).

Character	Meaning
`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

Notes for S52.21

7th character note:

The appropriate 7th character is to be added to all codes in subcategory S52.21

Notes inherited from parent codes

Instructional notes at a category or block level apply to every code below it.

S52 – Fracture of forearm

Excludes1 (not coded here):

traumatic amputation of forearm (S58.-)

Excludes2 (not included here):

fracture at wrist and hand level (S62.-)
periprosthetic fracture around internal prosthetic elbow joint (M97.4)

Notes:

A fracture not indicated as displaced or nondisplaced should be coded to displaced
A fracture not indicated as open or closed should be coded to closed
The open fracture designations are based on the Gustilo open fracture classification

7th character note:

The appropriate 7th character is to be added to all codes from category S52

Block S50-S59

Excludes2 (not included here):

burns and corrosions (T20-T32)
frostbite (T33-T34)
injuries of wrist and hand (S60-S69)
insect bite or sting, venomous (T63.4)

Index terms for S52.21

Entries in the ICD-10-CM alphabetic index that lead to this code:

Fracture, traumatic, ulna, shaft, greenstick

Related codes in S52.2

Frequently asked questions

What is ICD-10 code S52.21?

S52.21 is the ICD-10-CM code for greenstick fracture of shaft of ulna, in the block S50-S59 (Injuries to the elbow and forearm).

Is S52.21 a billable code?

No. S52.21 is a header code with more specific child codes; report one of the billable codes listed above.

What category does S52.21 belong to?

It belongs to category S52 – Fracture of forearm.

Source: CDC/NCHS ICD-10-CM FY2027 code files, tabular list and index. Reference only – code assignment must follow the official ICD-10-CM guidelines and documentation in the medical record.