Closed fracture of lumbar spine with spinal cord injury

This code signifies a fracture of one or more lumbar vertebrae where the skin remains intact, accompanied by damage to the spinal cord. The injury involves the lower back region of the spine, impacting neurological function due to cord involvement.

Apply this code when documentation explicitly states a closed fracture of the lumbar spine and details of a concurrent spinal cord injury, such as paraplegia, sensory deficits, or bowel/bladder dysfunction. This code is appropriate for initial encounters for such injuries.

• Always sequence the spinal cord injury (e.g., 344.1 for paraplegia) after the fracture code.
• Ensure documentation specifies "closed" to differentiate from open fractures.
• Verify the specific lumbar vertebral level if documented, as more detailed codes may be available for specific vertebrae.