Open fracture of lumbar spine with spinal cord injury

This code signifies a traumatic injury involving a break in the lumbar vertebrae where the bone has pierced the skin, accompanied by damage to the spinal cord. The open nature of the fracture indicates a direct communication between the fracture site and the external environment.

Assign this code for patients presenting with a lumbar spine fracture clearly documented as "open" or "compound," alongside evidence of neurological deficits attributable to spinal cord involvement. Documentation must explicitly state both the open nature of the fracture and the presence of a spinal cord injury.

• Ensure documentation specifies "open" or "compound" fracture; otherwise, a closed fracture code is more appropriate.
• Verify the injury location is specifically the lumbar spine; do not use for thoracic or cervical fractures.
• Confirm the presence of a documented spinal cord injury; mere neurological symptoms without explicit spinal cord damage may require a different code.