Laceration of thorax with penetration into thoracic cavity
Hi,
Patient with multiple knife stab wounds to neck and entire back. Has bilateral hemopneumothoraces. There is no other mode of trauma documented. It seems safe to assume the lacerations are what caused the hemopneumothoraces with no other mode of trauma. Can I automatically code this to laceration of thorax with penetration into thoracic cavity or should a query be submitted?
Many thanks,
Sarah
Patient with multiple knife stab wounds to neck and entire back. Has bilateral hemopneumothoraces. There is no other mode of trauma documented. It seems safe to assume the lacerations are what caused the hemopneumothoraces with no other mode of trauma. Can I automatically code this to laceration of thorax with penetration into thoracic cavity or should a query be submitted?
Many thanks,
Sarah
Comments
I would like to know the answer to this to :)
Do you have the imaging report findings to share? When the open wounds communicate with the internal organs then it is a penetrating wound.