Re: Please let me know the diagnosis codes for the following:

[Danni R.]

Here are some quick notes about my thoughts and reasonings regarding the Avulsion laceration right forearm from the perspective of a medical assistant...

Excuse me if my reasoning seems a bit rusty. After all, I have mostly functioned in the clinical areas, but also, been out of the field for nearly a decade. However, I enjoy the discussions.

So, again, my train of thought from the perspective of a medical assistant:

1.) First of all, I would pull the medical records to determine if the injury is open or closed. Laceration hints that it is an open injury. I recall, that fractures not specified as either open or closed are coded as closed. So, I'll keep the same in mind for this avulsion... I must specify whether the injury it is open or closed.

2.) I know that ICD-9-CM classifies the following injuries:

3.) Fractures, dislocations, sprains and strains - but I don't think it specified avulsion (?). When looking at the term avulsion, it is defined as the loss or separation of a body part, either by surgery or due to trauma, in other words, the arm must have been torn away forcibly.

So it would likely fall under:

• avulsion fracture, or...
• Certain traumatic complications and unspecified injuries
• Other and unspecified effects of external causes
• Complications of surgical and medical procedures

The medical chart's progress (or SOAP) notes would provide me with the most accurate data regarding the type, cause, and extent of trauma.

http://www.icd9data.com/2007/Volume1/800-999/default.htm

[Danni R.]

Geeze, these are easy, so easy Danni can answer them.

Hint, look in your 700 series and 800 series.  Thats where they are located.

One thing, we dont give anyone codes. We want you to do that yourself.  You learn better.  also, we're not anyones personal coder. 

Give a man a fish, you feed him for one day only.  You teach a man to fish, you feed him the rest of his life. 

YOu give someone the codes they ask for, they learn nothing.   YOu have them code themselves they become self sufficient.

Steve, we think alike!!!! I know I could give it a good shot if put up for a challenge... I was thinking the same thing when I read the post. Yes, the doctor's notes in the medical chart, along with the annotations on the encounter form (superbill), etc. would be my first line of attack. That right there would still fall into the medical assistant's training scope.

To Peter007: but I am glad that you have taken a moment to post your train of thought... and reasoning. Let's take it up a notch from there! What does your training, and instincts tell you how it should be. Just post away. Like you put it so well: for the sake of discussion. Like the math teacher always said: "don't just submit your answer, I also want your notes so I can see how you arrived at it."

[Steve Verno]

sorry, the chart is very important or is ths a test you're taking.   

the answer to your symptom question is in the icd-9 guidelines but NEVER leave the chart out, without what it says you cant code. We have to know what the doctor wrote.

the alternative is you dont have the chart because these are test questions. 

[Steve Verno]

Geeze, these are easy, so easy Danni can answer them.

Hint, look in your 700 series and 800 series.  Thats where they are located.

One thing, we dont give anyone codes. We want you to do that yourself.  You learn better.  also, we're not anyones personal coder. 

Give a man a fish, you feed him for one day only.  You teach a man to fish, you feed him the rest of his life. 

YOu give someone the codes they ask for, they learn nothing.   YOu have them code themselves they become self sufficient.