Neurosurgery Coding Alert

Question: My surgeon said he did an emergency craniotomy for depressed skull fracture, but I don't know what CPT code to use. The procedure is described as follows on the operative report: "Elevation of compound, comminuted, depressed skull fracture, methylmethacrylate cement cranioplasty." DX: is Compound,comminuted, depressed skull fracture."

Texas Subscriber

Answer: More information would need to be obtained to identify the specific code, as either 62005 (Elevation of depressed skull fracture; compound or comminuted, extradural) or 62010 (...with repair of dura and/or debridement of brain) may apply. If the surgery was performed without identification of a dural injury or performance of brain debridement, 62005 applies. Otherwise, you should consider 62010.