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ED Coding and Reimbursement Alert

Reader Question:

Don't let coding for a Dens fracture be a pain in the neck.

Published on Fri May 18, 2012

Question: Can anyone tell me how they would code the following Fracture of the Dens. There was no spinal cord injury or mention of an open fracture. I'm not sure if I'm just looking in the wrong area. Thanks. Missouri Subscriber Answer: Dens is a protuberance at the axis or 2nd cervical vertebra. It exhibits a slight constriction or neck, where it joins the main body of the vertebra. The condition, where the Dens is separated from the body of the axis may cause nerve and circulation compression syndrome. There are three types of Dens- related fractures Type I Fracture - Extends through the tip of the dens. This type is usually stable. Type II Fracture - Extends through the base of the dens. It is the most commonly encountered fracture for this region of the axis. This type is never stable. Type III Fracture - Extends through the vertebral [...]
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