LeFort III fracture, initial encounter for closed fracture

This code signifies a complete craniofacial disjunction, where the entire midface is separated from the skull base and orbital structures. It involves fractures extending through the nasofrontal sutures, orbital walls, zygomatic arches, and pterygoid plates. This severe injury results in significant facial instability and often involves cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) leaks.

Apply this code for the initial treatment of a LeFort III fracture that is documented as closed, meaning there is no open wound communicating with the fracture site. Documentation should clearly specify the LeFort III classification and the "initial encounter" for active treatment of the fracture.

• Differentiate from LeFort I and II fractures, which involve less extensive midfacial separation.
• Ensure documentation explicitly states "closed fracture" to avoid miscoding with open fractures.
• Confirm "initial encounter" for the current episode of care; subsequent encounters for follow-up or healing would use different seventh characters.