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.
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).
Treat Spinal Compression Fractures Without Surgery
A T12 or L1 compression fracture most commonly happens as a wedge fracture, which occurs when the front part of the vertebra collapses and the back doesn't, making the bone look like a wedge. Osteoporosis, which causes decreased bone density, is a common risk factor for compression fractures.
ICD-10-CM Code for Wedge compression fracture of unspecified thoracic vertebra, initial encounter for closed fracture S22. 000A.
If you have no other documentation about the fracture (e.g. whether this is a pathological or a traumatic fracture), then this would code to category M48. 5 - Compression fracture of vertebra NOS, so I would use M48. 56XA for the lumbar site.
Compression fractures of the spine usually occur at the bottom part of the thoracic spine (T11 and T12) and the first vertebra of the lumbar spine (L1). Compression fractures of the spine generally occur from too much pressure on the vertebral body.
Wedge compression fracture of second lumbar vertebra, initial encounter for closed fracture. S32. 020A is a billable/specific ICD-10-CM code that can be used to indicate a diagnosis for reimbursement purposes. The 2022 edition of ICD-10-CM S32.
In a compression fracture, the vertebral body collapses. The most common type of compression fracture is a wedge fracture, in which the front of the vertebral body collapses but the back does not, meaning that the bone assumes a wedge shape.
ICD-10-CM Code for Wedge compression fracture of first lumbar vertebra, initial encounter for closed fracture S32. 010A.
03.
grade 3 (severe fracture) - vertebral body height reduced > 40%
twelfth thoracic vertebraThe T12, or twelfth thoracic vertebra is the largest of all your thoracic vertebrae, and is the lowermost in the back. It's designed to bear the weight of your spine, and is the strongest of all vertebrae in the region, but it's also the most prone to injuries from stress.
The T12 vertebra sits right above the lumbar spinal column. It is the largest and most inferior of the thoracic spinal vertebrae. The T12 vertebrae location is between the T11 vertebra and the first lumbar vertebra, L1, in the trunk region.
thoracic spinal vertebraeThe thoracic spinal vertebrae consist of 12 total vertebrae and are located between the cervical vertebrae (which begin at the base of the skull) and the lumbar spinal vertebrae. The eleventh thoracic vertebra (T11) is located near the bottom of the thoracic spine.
For codes less than 6 characters that require a 7th character a placeholder 'X' should be assigned for all characters less than 6. The 7th character must always be the 7th position of a code. E.g. The ICD-10-CM code T67.4 (Heat exhaustion due to salt depletion) requires an Episode of Care identifier.
A chest injury is any form of physical injury to the chest including the ribs, heart and lungs. Chest injuries account for 25% of all deaths from traumatic injury. Typically chest injuries are caused by blunt mechanisms such as motor vehicle collisions or penetrating mechanisms such as stabbings.
The ICD-10-CM Alphabetical Index links the below-listed medical terms to the ICD code S22.080. Click on any term below to browse the alphabetical index.