Wiki Splinting vs. casting

[Wendy McBride]

An ortho surgeon performs open treatment of a patellar fracture, and post-procedure puts on a compression dressing and two fiberglass splints. Eight days later the surgeon put a long leg fiberglass cast on the patient. Does the long leg fiberglass cast count as the first casting, thereby included in the procedure? Or is the splint put on the patient post-operatively considered the first casting?

 

[OCD_coder]

The splint in the OR is the first casting.

The fiberglass cast 8 days later is a billable service and may require a modifier 58 depending on the carrier.

 

[Wendy McBride]

Thank you, I appreciate your assistance!