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AHA Coding Clinic® for ICD-9 - 2001 Third Quarter

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The patient is a 65-year-old man, who has a history of epidural hematoma and instability of C6-7, resulting from trauma. He had previously undergone multilevel cervical laminectomy and fusion with axis lateral mass plates. He subsequently twisted his neck and x-rays revealed a displacement of the C5 lateral mass screw. Based on this finding the physician determined that the patient was at risk for failure of his spinal fusion and further stabilized his neck by applying a halo brace. With the patient in his hospital bed, the scalp was prepped and draped, the posterior vest plate of the halo applied, and the halo ring was secured to the skull with four pins. In this case, what is the appropriate code assignment for the application of the halo traction device (code 93.41 or code 02.94)? ...

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