Pathological fracture is caused by disease. For example, fractures sustained in an activity that normally would not cause a fracture such as bending over to pick something up or walking up the stairs. Traumatic fracture is caused by some type of accident. For example, fractures sustained in a motor vehicle accident or falling off of a roof.
Fracture Codes . Assign separate codes for each fracture unless there is a combination code. When multiple fractures or injuries occur at the same time, the provider determines the diagnosis for the most serious fracture/injury and the focus of treatment (sequenced first). Also, assign the appropriate 7. th. character (see below for descriptions).
With that being said, certain medical conditions can weaken the bone and make it more vulnerable to fracture. These include osteoporosis, tumors, infection, and even certain bisphosphonate medications used to treat osteoporosis. Breaks of these sorts are referred to as pathologic femur fractures.
You would code the aftercare codes for follow up visits while the fracture is healing after the initial treatment. The guidelines state: "Fractures are coded using the aftercare codes for encounters after the patient has completed active treatment of the fracture and is receiving routine care for the fracture during the healing or recovery phase.
A pathological fracture is classified to code 733.1x, with a fifth digit identifying the fracture site. Pathological fractures often occur in the vertebra (733.13), hip (733.14), and wrist (distal radius or Colles' fracture, 733.12).
Pathologic fractures occur through areas of weakened bone attributed to either primary malignant lesions, benign lesions, metastasis, or underlying metabolic abnormalities, with the common factor being altered skeletal biomechanics secondary to pathologic bone.
A pathological fracture is one in which breaks in the bone were caused by an underlying disease. Examples of pathological fractures include those caused by cancer (see Figure 1), osteoporosis, or other bone diseases.
Listen to pronunciation. (PA-thuh-LAH-jik FRAK-sher) A broken bone caused by disease, often by the spread of cancer to the bone.
The femoral neck and head are the most common locations for pathologic fracture because of the propensity for metastases to involve proximal bones and because of the stress of weight placed on this part of the femur.
A bone fracture is a complete or incomplete discontinuity of bone caused by a direct or indirect force. A pathological bone fracture is a bone fracture which occurs without adequate trauma and is caused by a preexistent pathological bone lesion.
A vertebral fracture may occur spontaneously and thus be more easily identified as occurring due to a disease (e.g. osteoporosis) and, therefore, coded as a pathologic fracture (ICD9 733.13).
Although all compression fractures have an underlying pathology, the term pathologic vertebral compression fracture (pVCF) is traditionally reserved for fractures that result from primary or metastatic spine tumors.
Osteoporotic fractures (fragility fractures, low-trauma fractures) are those occurring from a fall from a standing height or less, without major trauma such as a motor vehicle accident.
The codes under M80 identify the site of the fracture. A code from category M80, not a traumatic fracture code, should be used for any patient with known osteoporosis who suffers a fracture – even if the patient had a minor fall or trauma – if that fall or trauma would not usually break a normal, healthy bone.
A pathological or fragility fracture is defined as a fracture sustained due to trauma no more severe than a fall from standing height, with the break occurring under circumstances that would not cause a fracture in a normal, healthy bone.
The seventh character “A” is for use as long as the patient is receiving active treatment for a pathologic fracture. Examples of active treatment include surgical treatment, emergency department encounters and evaluation and treatment by a new physician. The seventh character “D” is to be used for encounters occurring after the patient has completed active treatment. The other seventh characters, listed under each subcategory in the tabular list, are to be used for subsequent encounters for treatment of problems associated with healing, such as malunions, nonunions and sequelae. Care for complications of surgical treatment of fracture repairs, occurring during the healing or recovery phase, should be coded with the appropriate complication codes.
A code from category M80, not a traumatic fracture code, should be used for any patient with known osteoporosis who suffers a fracture – even if the patient had a minor fall or trauma – if that fall or trauma would not usually break a normal, healthy bone.