Orthopedic Coding Alert

Coding additional procedures can boost your bottom line by $500. Mistaking bimalleolar and trimalleolar fracture codes? If so, you could be costing your practice almost $100 -- the difference in reimbursement between the open repair codes for these ankle fractures. Orthopedic surgeons must be specific when documenting fracture repair because CPT's index breaks down the ankle fracture codes into five types: lateral, medial, bimalleolar, trimalleolar, or posterior malleolus. Important: -The fracture itself can be an open fracture (puncture through the skin at the time of the injury) or closed (no break in the skin),- says Ruby Woodward,BSN, ACS-OR, coding and research specialist for Twin Cities Orthopedics in Minneapolis, Minn. Type 1: Decide if Lateral Malleolus Fracture Is Open Versus Closed Even though CPT directs you to the 27786-27814 series for lateral malleolus fractures, your work may not be done because surgeons don't always dictate -lateral malleolus fractures- in their documentation. For [...]