AMA CPT® Assistant - 2018 Issue 1 (January)
Reporting Fracture and Restorative Care and Dislocations (January 2018)
January 2018 pages 3-5 Reporting Fracture and Restorative Care and Dislocations The Surgery/Musculoskeletal System subsection guidelines in the Current Procedural Terminology (CPT®) code set address coding issues related to reporting application of casts, splints, and strapping—with or without restorative treatment. The guidelines also address references to anesthesia in the joint dislocation–treatment codes. This article is intended to ensure the correct reporting of these codes, correct use of modifier for all fracture and/or dislocation treatment codes, and answer questions about cast, splint, and strapping codes (29000-29799). This article will focus on: How to report an initial cast, splint, or...
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Article Overview
This January 2018 CPT Assistant article explains reporting considerations for musculoskeletal fracture and dislocation care, including casts, splints, strapping, replacement immobilization, emergency department scenarios, anesthesia references in procedure terminology, and removal of fixation hardware. It is relevant to physicians, emergency department coders, orthopedic practices, and other professionals who report CPT services in the Surgery/Musculoskeletal System subsection. The article focuses on how the broader CPT guidelines address related services, global care concepts, and associated coding references.
Why This Topic Matters
Correctly distinguishing when immobilization is included versus separately reportable can affect CPT reporting across emergency, surgical, and follow-up care settings. The article also helps coders recognize when modifier use, anesthesia terminology, and hardware-removal reporting need closer review.
Article Sections
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January 2018 pages 3-5
Introductory page reference for the article content.
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Reporting Fracture and Restorative Care and Dislocations
Overview of the CPT musculoskeletal guidance addressed in the article, including immobilization, fracture and dislocation care, and related reporting topics.
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Report Initial Cast, Splint, or Strapping Service
Discussion of when initial immobilization services are considered in the context of fracture and dislocation care and how the article frames the reporting questions.
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Emergency Department Clinical Scenarios Coding Examples
A set of emergency department scenarios illustrating how the article discusses fracture care, immobilization, and follow-up responsibility.
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Coding When Surgical Treatment Is Involved
Coverage of scenarios where fracture treatment occurs in a surgical setting and how immobilization is addressed in that context.
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Coding for Replacement Cast, Splint, or Strapping
Guidance related to follow-up immobilization services and replacement applications during or after the global period.
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Coding for Temporary Casts, Splints, or Strapping
Discussion of temporary immobilization before definitive treatment and how the article distinguishes it from routine preoperative care.
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Coding Fracture Treatment in the ED
General emergency department considerations for fracture treatment, surgical global package concepts, and related reporting questions.
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Anesthesia for Fracture Care and Other Musculoskeletal Services
Explanation of how anesthesia terminology is used within musculoskeletal CPT code language and what general references the article highlights.
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Removal of External Fixation (Hardware)
Overview of reporting considerations for external fixation removal and the circumstances addressed by the article.
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Removal of Internal Fixation/Implant
Discussion of implant removal reporting, including repeated reporting considerations and circumstances involving multiple sites.
What You Will Learn
- How the article frames CPT reporting for fracture and dislocation-related immobilization services.
- How emergency department scenarios are used to illustrate broad CPT reporting considerations.
- How the article discusses temporary versus replacement immobilization.
- How anesthesia references within musculoskeletal CPT terminology are presented.
- How the article addresses reporting of external and internal fixation removal.
Who Should Read This
- Physicians
- Orthopedic coders
- Emergency department coders
- Professional medical coders
- Revenue cycle staff
Codes Discussed
Code Ranges Discussed
Modifiers Discussed
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