A: Code the C2 spinous process with one code (650218.2) and the C6/C7 fx/dislocation with the cord contusion as one code (with complete tetraplegia) as 640228.5. Although the cord contusion is multilevel, you should only code it with the fracture dislocation. If you had a second, discrete area of contusion in another place on the cord, that would be coded separately, but that is not the case in this scenario.
Q: A patient has an unstable C7 vertebral body fracture, a fractured spinous process at C2 and a subluxation C6/C7 with sensory/motor loss below T2. The CT/MRI states ‘multilevel cord contusion’ (cord contusion at lower cervical and upper dorsal level). At 24 hrs post injury pt remains paralysed and sedated, pt not moving upper and lower limbs prior to intubation. How should these injuries be coded?
Jun 1, 2009 | External | 0 comments