Podiatry Coding & Billing Alert

Question: Can you explain the difference between an open and a closed fracture?

California Subscriber

Answer: Closed fracture: A closed fracture involves a bone break that has not penetrated the skin. So, if there is no evidence of a breach of the skin in the encounter notes, you likely have a closed fracture claim on your hands.

Open fracture: An open fracture is when the bone has punctured through the skin or there is a significant break in the skin directly over the fracture site - not an abrasion or superficial laceration.

Don’t miss: If the patient’s medical documentation does not specify whether his traumatic fracture is open or closed, you should report it as closed, according to the ICD-10-CM Official Guidelines for Coding and Reporting in Chapter 19, section c.