Neurosurgery Coding Alert

Don't assume just any closed injury is a contusion.If your surgeon notes a nonspecific diagnosis like head injury, minor head injury, or closed head injury, you'll be left without sufficient info to nail the right code when ICD-10 is effective. That's because in ICD-10, you'll have more specific options to report minor bruises of the head and neck and other minor injuries with no loss of consciousness. Currently you report the bruises on the scalp, face, or neck with ICD-9 code 920 (Contusion of face scalp and neck except eye[s]). A bruise is a minor injury in which there is internal bleeding without damage to the overlying skin. There isn't a cut and the skin remains intact. Code 920 includes bruise or hematoma without fracture or open wound and is inclusive of all contusions on the scalp, face, and neck. Hence, you report ICD-9 code 920 for any contusions of [...]