Q: How do you code a fracture of the acromium process?
A: Although this process is at the end of the neck, the most correct answer is 750900.2 Scapula fracture NFS.
Q: A patient sustains several cervical spine fractures in a fall. They include C1 lateral mass fracture, and both spinous process and transverse process fractures of C4 and C5. What are the correct codes in AIS 2005?
A:650226.2, C1 lateral mass (pedicle) fracture650217.2, C4 multiple fractures of same vertebra650217.2, C5 multiple fractures of same vertebraEach vertebra is coded separately. AIS 2005 clarifies where to code various portions of the C1 vertebra, and also adds a new code for multiple fractures of the same vertebra.
Q: The patient sustained a gun shot wound to the eye which penetrated the skull base and lodged in the parietal area of the brain. It was noted that there was brain tissue extruding from the wound. What is the best way to code the head injuries?
A: There are two correct codes — 150206.4 for the complex basilar skull fracture and 140690.5 for the penetrating injury to the cerebrum. In AIS 2005 the codes would be the same for the base fracture and 140692.5. Note that in AIS 2005 the code for penetrating injury to the cerebrum has a lower severity
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Q: When are penetrating injuries assigned to the External body region for ISS purposes?
A: All penetrating injuries that do not involve underlying structures are assigned to the External body region when calculating an ISS with the exception of penetrating injuries to the head and massive penetrating injuries to the face. The AIS 2005 dictionary spells this rule out more clearly than previous editions. Remember, when coding penetrating injuries,
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Q: Patient A sustains a gun shot wound to the head with greater than 2 cm penetration. What is the correct AIS code and to which body region is this assigned for ISS purposes? Patient B sustains a gun shot wound to the chest, into the pleural cavity but with no known lung or vessel involvement. What is the correct AIS code and to which body region is this assigned for ISS purposes?
A: Patient A is coded 116004.5 and is assigned to the ISS Head region. Patient B is coded 416002.1 and is assigned to the ISS External region. Penetrating injury codes listed under the Whole Area section of the dictionary are generally assigned to the External body region for ISS purposes. An exception is made for
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