Orthopedic Coding Alert

Don't trip over the service you can't report. Most of your orthopedic coding cases begin and end with your own physicians, but sometimes exceptions apply. Decide how you would code the orthopedist's role in this case involving an American survivor of the Haitian earthquake. Then, check our experts' advice. The scenario: The patient suffered a compound fracture to the left tibial shaft. A Navy physician stabilized it on the transport ship and applied an external fixator. When the patient arrived at a U.S. hospital, the plastic surgeon on duty was called in to complete skin and muscle grafts. He discovered a gap between the bones in the patient's leg and thought she would need a bone graft. He called in an orthopedist who was already in the OR and had him take a look. The orthopedist consulted with the patient about needing to perform a bone graft and reset the bone. The [...]