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ED Coding and Reimbursement Alert

You Be the Coder:

Nail Down the Correct Code For This Finger Injury

Published on Thu Oct 20, 2011

Question: What codes would your assign for the following chart note: Wound Repair of 1cm (0.4 in) involving nail bed laceration to dorsal aspect of distal phalanx of left middle finger. Irregularly shaped. Skin/tissue flap noted. Distal neuro/vascular/tendon intact. Anesthesia: Digital block administered with 4 mls of 1% lidocaine. Wound prep: Moderate cleansing with Betadine, Wound explored moderately, Copious irrigation. Subungal hematoma is drained. Nail avulsed fully and removed. Closed with 8 5-0 chromic and nail bed repaired, nail reattached and tacked down with 2) 5-0 vicryl sutures. Dressed with Bacitracin, tube gauze. Answer: The question to answer in coding this case is determining whether it is a nail bed repair or a laceration repair and which discrete services may be reported. CPT® Assistant has provided the following description of a nail bed repair as opposed to a laceration repair of the area. "For lacerations to the nail bed, a portion [...]
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