Question:
We have a patient who had a severe crush injury of the left hand which led to a comminuted fracture of the left 3rd and 5th metacarpals with an intra-articular fracture of the proximal phalanx of the left index finger.  The physician’s documentation indicates the following:

• There was also a soft tissue defect over the left proximal interphalangeal (PIP) joint of the middle finger.  After taking samples for culture, the wounds were meticulously débrided and curetted.
• Bony structures were evident over the 3rd metacarpal as well as on the PIP of the middle finger where the defect was about 3-1/2 to 2-1/2 inches. The area of the dorsum of the PIP joint of the left middle finger was about ¾ inch x ¾ inch.
• Debridement and irrigation was done using 6 liters of saline with the gravity Patzakis technique and 1 liter of antibiotic.
• After the wound was washed, X-rays were taken to confirm the fractures though no attempt was made to reduce any fractures because of the severe contamination.  A wound-VAC was planned for the dorsum of the left hand at the PIP joint of the left small finger.

Would I report 11043 and 97605 with ICD-9 682.4 and 681.00?

-North Carolina Subscriber

Answer:
The correct codes in this situation would be 11010 (Debridement including removal of foreign material at the site of an open fracture and/or an open dislocation (eg, excisional debridement); skin and
subcutaneous tissues), 11011 (Debridement including removal of foreign material at the site of an open fracture and/or an open dislocation (eg, excisional debridement); skin, subcutaneous tissue, muscle fascia, and muscle), or 11012 (Debridement including removal of foreign material at the site of an open fracture and/or an open dislocation (e.g., excisional debridement); skin, subcutaneous tissue, muscle fascia, muscle, and...