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Orthopedic Coding Alert

Reader Question:

Count Each Tendon in Forearm Injury

Published on Mon Sep 12, 2011

Question: The surgeon did a wound exploration with irrigation and debridement, repair of extensor digitorum communis (EDC) of index, long, ring, and small fingers at the musculotendinous junction with approximation of tendon to tendon, repair of partial injury to extensor indicis proprius (EIP), extensor pollicis brevis (EPB), and abductor pollicis longus (APL) muscle bellies, and repair of the extensor carpi ulnaris (ECU) tendon at musculotendinous junction. The operative note follows:"The previous laceration over the posterior aspect of the mid forearm was visualized and the sutures that were in it were removed. The wound was re-opened and copiously irrigated with normal saline. The wound was then explored to find the tendon damage done by this laceration. It was visualized that he had injuries to the muscle bellies of the EIP, EPB, and APL. He also had an injury at the musculotendinous junction of the EDC to the index, long, ring, and [...]
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