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Radiology Coding Alert

Take the Guesswork Out of Choosing Hand and Wrist Codes

Published on Mon May 11, 2009

Let this helpful graphic connect the fracture ICD-9/anatomy dots. Students Like The Professor To Teach Complex Hypotheses is just one of the mnemonic devices to help you remember the carpal bones: Scaphoid, Lunate, Triquetral, Pisiform, Trapezium, Trapezoid, Capitate, Hamate. (And you can find plenty of racier options without looking too hard.) But keeping this chart nearby is the easiest way to pair those bones with their proper fracture diagnosis codes. Fourth digit options: Your fourth digit options are the same for 814.xx-817.x: 0 (closed) when the bone doesnt break the skin and 1 (open) when the bone breaks the skin. Key: ICD-9 guidelines instruct you to report a closed code when documentation doesnt indicate closed or open. 814.xx -- Fracture of carpal bone(s) " 814.x0 -- & carpal bone, unspecified " 814.x1 -- & navicular (scaphoid) of wrist " 814.x2 -- & lunate (semilunar) bone of wrist " 814.x3 -- & triquetral (cuneiform) bone of [...]
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