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Neurosurgery Coding Alert

Reader Question:

Look For Debridement in Gunshot Wound

Published on Thu Aug 02, 2012

Question Patient had a gunshot wound to the head, through and through with skull fragments removed from the brain. Is code 61570 (Craniectomy or craniotomy; with excision of foreign body from brain) or 61571 (Craniectomy or craniotomy; with treatment of penetrating wound of brain) appropriate in this situation. In light of the bone fragments code 61570 seems more appropriate. Please advise. Alaska SubscriberAnswer: You will need to check if there was brain tissue damaged that required your surgeon to do a debridement of injured brain tissue. If so, code 61571 is more appropriate.
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