Wiki Initial vs Subs Fx for Anesthesia

[aadair]

We are an anesthesia office. For our ICD10 training we have received conflicting information regarding our coding of fractures. A recent trainer explained that because we are anesthesia, our treatment of fractures in the O.R. will always be considered initial because this is our first time treating the patient. Is this an accurate statement? We see many O.R. cases for removal of hardware and feel these would be considered a subsequent fracture status? Can someone please clarify if we should be coding according to the fracture status or our initial treatment of any type of fracture?

 

[mitchellde]

We are an anesthesia office. For our ICD10 training we have received conflicting information regarding our coding of fractures. A recent trainer explained that because we are anesthesia, our treatment of fractures in the O.R. will always be considered initial because this is our first time treating the patient. Is this an accurate statement? We see many O.R. cases for removal of hardware and feel these would be considered a subsequent fracture status? Can someone please clarify if we should be coding according to the fracture status or our initial treatment of any type of fracture?

Since this is the patient diagnosis you code to the fracture status. If the fracture has not been treated previously then it is initial . If it is to perform bone grafs for delayed healing, it is subsequent, if it is to remove hardware it is subsequent or possibly sequela. Read the guidelines as updated for 2015 for confirmation of this