Anesthesia Coding Alert

Reader Question:

Ask Physician for Compression Fracture Diagnoses

Question: Which diagnosis code should I report for a compression fracture of T7?

Illinois Subscriber
 
Answer: When you look up "Fracture, compression" in ICD-9, it directs you to also see "Fracture by site." Options for a T7 compression fracture include 805.27 (Fracture of vertebral column without mention of spinal cord injury; dorsal [thoracic], closed; seventh cervical vertebra) or 805.37 (... dorsal [thoracic], open; seventh cervical vertebra). The index listing for nontraumatic compression fracture refers you to "Fracture, pathologic," which you should code as 733.13 (Pathologic fracture of vertebrae). You should ask the physician which of these diagnoses best describes the patient's fracture.
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