Wiki strapping/splinting

[deenakrause]

I often get bills for wrist sprains that are given a velcro splint for support. One clinic is coding 29260 to put on a wrist support splint L3908. No fracture is involved and no wrapping of the wrist. Just a splint from a box. Is this right?

 

[kmhall]

It is my understanding that these are covered only if there is a fracture/dislocation or some type of open wound for which a surgical procedure was performed. I don't think a wrist sprain requires surgery so my opinion is that the splinting/strapping code is not billable. Any one else?

 

[Anna Weaver]

We use them in the ER when they use a splint/strap for dislocation or injury that needs to stabilized/immobilized and we use them for fractures that are being referred on to an ortho and that is the only treatment done to stabilize until ortho sees them.