PATHOLOGIC FX

donnakellykent@gmail.comdonnakellykent@gmail.com
in CDI Talk Archive
MD documented spontaneous lumbar compression fracture.
A colleague has informed me that because he said spontaneous compression fracture I can code that as pathological. Is that true?

Comments

  • jrileyjriley
    edited April 2016
    Yes according to a very early Coding Clinic from 1985 a spontaneous fracture is always pathologic, i.e. not traumatic, and should be coded to pathologic fx. I would query the physician to determine the cause if possible.

    Judy

    Judy Riley, RHIT, CCS, CPC
    Coding/CDI Manager, AHIMA Approved ICD-10 Trainer
    LRGHealthcare
    Lakes x 3315

    "Problems cannot be solved by the same level of thinking that created them."
    - Albert Einstein

  • donnakellykent@gmail.comdonnakellykent@gmail.com
    THANK YOU.
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