Radiology Coding Alert

Question: Which ICD-9 code describes a tibial eminence fracture?

Massachusetts Subscriber

Answer: Code 823.00 (Fracture of tibia and fibula; upper end, closed; tibia alone) describes this injury.

A tibial eminence fracture is a fracture of the bony protrusion on the tibial plateau and is a knee injury typically found in children and adolescents. You may see the fracture also referred to as intercondylar eminence fractures, Meyers fractures, or McKeever fractures.

ICD-10: When payers implement ICD-10 in 2013,expect to need to know a few additional details. The 2010 ICD-10-CM S82.xxx (Fracture of upper end of tibia) range requires details such as which leg is involved and whether the fracture is displaced or nondisplaced. (ICD-10 2010 codes are available at www.cdc.gov/nchs/icd/icd10cm.htm#10update.) You'll have additional conventions to learn,as well, such as, "A fracture not indicated as displaced or nondisplaced should be coded to displaced."