Orthopedic Coding Alert

Question: What procedure code should I file for repair of a Salter Harris distal femoral fracture?

Arkansas Subscriber

Answer: Most surgeons treat this type of fracture percutaneously, which leads to 27509 (Percutaneous skeletal fixation of femoral fracture, distal end, medial or lateral condyle, or supracondylar or transcondylar, with or without intercondylar extention, or distal femoral epiphyseal separation).

Beware: Recheck all of your documentation before coding, however. An open treatment with plates, screws, or other hardware would be 27511 (Open treatment of femoral supracondylar or transcondylar fracture without intercondylar extension, includes internal fixation, when performed).