ED Coding and Reimbursement Alert

Question: A patient with a closed fracture of the thumb base reports to the ED. The ED physician splints the thumb. What CPT code best represents this procedure?

Alaska Subscriber

 Answer: The proper code for your splinting claim will depend on the specifics of the encounter.
 
Option 1: ED physician applies a spica splint. If the physician is concerned about a scaphoid fracture, he will apply a spica splint, a short-arm splint that covers the forearm and thumb and stabilizes the patient's wrist. If the physician applies a spica splint, you should:

 - report 29125 (Application of short arm splint [forearm to hand]; static) for the procedure.
 - attach 815.01 (Fracture of metacarpal bone[s]; closed; base of thumb [first] metacarpal) to 29125 to represent the patient's injury.

Option 2: Physician applies a standard finger splint. In other instances, the physician will apply a typical thumb splint that solely stabilizes the thumb. When this occurs, you should:

 - report 29130 (Application of finger splint; static) for the procedure.
 - attach 815.01 to 29130 to represent the patient's injury.