Orthopedic Coding:
Decipher This Open Fx Debridement Case
Published on Wed Mar 12, 2025
Question: If an orthopedic surgeon documents an open fracture was debrided and copiously irrigated without giving the tissue type or depth, does the documentation support assigning an open fracture debridement code? The documentation doesn’t describe the tissue as contaminated or that the tissue was removed. AAPC Forum Subscriber Answer: If the physician’s documentation clearly states the patient has an open [...]