Question 1

Fracture codes are based on:

Accepted Answer

B

Question 2

Insertion of a device into the muscle to measure the pressure within the muscle is monitoring of:

Accepted Answer

Insertion of a device into the muscle to measure the pressure within the muscle is specifically for monitoring interstitial fluid pressure. This technique is used to assess the pressure within the spaces between cells (interstitial spaces) in the muscle, which can be crucial for diagnosing and managing conditions related to fluid balance and tissue pressure.

Question 3

A hip replacement is coded based on the:

Accepted Answer

A hip replacement is coded based on the medical reasons for the surgery, such as osteoarthritis or hip fracture, and not the other factors listed.

Question 4

Which term describes a reduction?

Accepted Answer

Reduction refers to the process of correcting a fracture or dislocation to its normal alignment, often involving manipulation of the affected area.

Question 5

Open treatment of a fracture is when the:

Accepted Answer

Open treatment of a fracture involves surgically opening and visualizing or remotely opening the fracture site. Option A (bone protruding through the skin) refers to an open fracture, which may or may not require surgery. Option B (physician reducing the fracture) may be done in closed reduction without surgical intervention. Option D (using an arthroscope) is not typically used for the treatment of fractures.

Question 6

Using codes from the wound exploration category requires the coder to assess the extent of the procedure.

Accepted Answer

The codes in the wound exploration category (e.g. 20100-20103) describe the extent of the procedure, such as whether it involves deeper layers or bones, and the number of wounds explored. Therefore, the coder must assess the extent of the procedure to select the appropriate code.

Question 7

Which of the following terms describes traction by use of strapping, elastic wraps, or tape?

Accepted Answer

Skin traction involves the use of strapping, elastic wraps, or tape applied directly to the skin to provide traction.

Question 8

Which of the following is not a fracture treatment?

Accepted Answer

Replantation is a procedure that involves reattaching a completely severed body part, it is not a fracture treatment. Open, closed, and percutaneous are all methods of treating fractures.

Question 9

A needle biopsy is a way of obtaining a piece of tissue out of the body by excision of the tissue.It can be examined under a microscope by a pathologist.Because this biopsy is performed through the skin, it is called a percutaneous biopsy.

Accepted Answer

A needle biopsy involves using a needle to obtain a tissue sample, rather than excising or cutting out a piece of tissue. It is indeed a type of percutaneous biopsy, as it is performed through the skin.

Question 10

The codes for wound exploration can be reported for exploration of any type of wound.

Accepted Answer

The codes for wound exploration are specific to the type of wound and the area of the body being explored, and cannot be used for just any type of wound. They are intended for use with traumatic wounds where the extent of injury is uncertain and exploration is necessary to determine the extent of damage or foreign body removal.

Question 11

Codes for arthrodesis include the bone graft and instrumentation, and these cannot be coded separately.

Accepted Answer

Arthrodesis is a surgical procedure that fuses two or more bones to eliminate joint motion. The codes for arthrodesis include the bone graft and instrumentation, they cannot be coded separately according to coding guidelines.

Question 12

Which of the following flaps describes a bone graft that is taken along with the skin and tissue that overlies the bone?

Accepted Answer

A bone graft that is taken along with the skin and tissue that overlies the bone is called a free osteocutaneous flap. This type of flap contains both bone and skin/tissue and requires microvascular surgery to reconnect the blood vessels in the new location. A myocutaneous flap only contains muscle and skin/tissue, while a dermis/epidermis flap only contains skin and tissue. A free flap is a general term for any tissue transfer that requires microvascular surgery, but it does not specify what type of tissue is being transferred.

Question 13

The restoration of a fracture or dislocation to its normal anatomic alignment by the application of manually applied force is known as:

Accepted Answer

Manipulation is the process of manually applying force to restore a fracture or dislocation to its normal anatomic alignment. External fixation involves the use of pins or screws to hold bones in place while they heal. Skeletal fixation involves the use of plates, rods, or screws to stabilize broken bones. Skeletal traction uses weights and pulleys to pull bones into their correct position.

Question 14

Which treatment of a fracture requires the fracture to be exposed to view or opened at a remote site for nailing across the fracture?

Accepted Answer

Open treatment of a fracture requires the fracture to be exposed to view or opened at a remote site for nailing across the fracture.

Question 15

An orthopedic surgeon cannot report the service of ultrasonic guidance because this is a radiologic procedure, and only a radiologist can report services represented in the Radiology section.

Accepted Answer

While it is true that only a radiologist can report services within the Radiology section, ultrasonic guidance is actually included in the Surgery section of the CPT codebook. Therefore, an orthopedic surgeon can report this service.

Question 16

Fast becoming the treatment of choice for many orthopedic surgical procedures is what type of procedure?

Accepted Answer

Endoscopy/arthroscopy is becoming the treatment of choice for many orthopedic surgical procedures because it is minimally invasive and offers quicker recovery time and less scarring compared to open surgery. The other options (closed, ultrasonic/laser, electrical stimulation) are not commonly used as an alternative to traditional orthopedic surgery.

Question 17

You cannot report codes for open wound exploration (20100-20103) if the wound is sufficient in size to accomplish the repair and the wound does not need to be enlarged.

Accepted Answer

If the wound is already sufficient in size for repair and does not require any further enlargement, then codes for wound exploration should not be reported.

Question 18

The application of a cranial halo is a form of:

Accepted Answer

The cranial halo is an external fixation device that is used to immobilize and stabilize the head and neck region. It is not surgically implanted, so it is not an implantation fixation device. It is also not inserted into the body, so it is not an insertional device or internal fixation.

Question 19

This type of graft is often taken from the upper thigh area.

Accepted Answer

The fascia lata, which is a strong connective tissue located in the upper thigh area, is commonly used as a graft in surgical procedures. It is a viable option due to its strength and ability to be shaped and manipulated to fit various surgical needs.

Question 20

Wound exploration codes have the following service(s) bundled into the codes:

Accepted Answer

Wound exploration codes include a comprehensive set of services: exploration of the wound, which may involve enlargement of the wound for better access, debridement (removal of dead, damaged, or infected tissue), removal of foreign bodies that may have been embedded in the wound, minor vessel ligation to control bleeding, and finally, repair of the wound. These bundled services are designed to provide a complete procedural package for wound management in a single code.

Quiz 15: Musculoskeletal System