Orthopedic Coding Alert
Reader Questions:
Look to 726.4 for Intersection Syndrome
Published on Sun Sep 12, 2004
Question: Which diagnosis code should I use if the surgeon documents "intersection syndrome" of the wrist?
California Subscriber
Answer: Intersection syndrome is an overuse syndrome of the wrist, during which the patient
has pain at the intersection of the abductor pollicis longus and extensor pollicis brevis tendons. The American Society for Surgery of the Hand recommends that practices report 726.4 (Enthesopathy of wrist and carpus) when the physician documents intersection syndrome of the wrist.
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