Wiki Physical Therapy

[kj09]

I think I may be over thinking things. When the patient is coming in for physical therapy after surgery would it be the 7th digit be A since they are actively being treated, D since the patient is in the healing recovery phase or S if they are having swelling, stiffness, etc as a result to the surgery?

 

[mitchellde]

If the surgery repaired the injury then the injury is no longer there. If the patient is going to PT after the surgery part has healed then the stiffness is the sequela. So it depends on whether the injury is considered repaired like a rotator cuff or is still healing like a femur fracture. But it is not an A after surgery because you are not providing active treatment for the injury. That has already been done, so PT is either a subsequent or sequela encounter for an injury.