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A depressed skull fracture is a type of skull injury characterized by a portion of the skull being displaced inward due to a high-energy impact, typically from a blunt object. This injury can occur from various incidents, such as falls, vehicle accidents, or physical assaults. Depressed skull fractures can be classified as either open or closed; an open fracture involves a break in the skin at the site of the injury, while a closed fracture maintains intact skin. These fractures may lead to significant complications, including loss of consciousness and potential intracranial injuries, such as epidural or subdural hematomas, as well as tears in the dura mater, which is the outermost layer of the protective covering of the brain. The procedure described by CPT® Code 62010 specifically addresses the elevation of a depressed skull fracture that is complicated by a dural tear and/or damage to brain tissue. This procedure involves not only the elevation of the fractured bone but also the repair of the dura and the debridement of any damaged or contaminated brain tissue, ensuring that the integrity of the cranial cavity is restored and that the risk of infection or further complications is minimized.
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The procedure described by CPT® Code 62010 is indicated for patients presenting with a depressed skull fracture that is complicated by specific conditions. These include:
The procedure for CPT® Code 62010 involves several critical steps to ensure proper management of the depressed skull fracture and associated complications. Each step is detailed as follows:
Post-procedure care for patients undergoing the CPT® Code 62010 procedure includes monitoring for signs of infection, cerebrospinal fluid leakage, and neurological status. Patients may require pain management and should be observed for any complications arising from the surgery. Follow-up imaging may be necessary to ensure proper healing of the skull and brain. Additionally, instructions regarding activity restrictions and wound care will be provided to facilitate recovery.
| Short Descr | TREATMENT OF HEAD INJURY | Medium Descr | ELVTN DEPRS SKL FX W/RPR DURA&/DBRDMT BRN | Long Descr | Elevation of depressed skull fracture; with repair of dura and/or debridement of brain | Status Code | Active Code | Global Days | 090 - Major Surgery | PC/TC Indicator (26, TC) | 0 - Physician Service Code | Multiple Procedures (51) | 2 - Standard payment adjustment rules for multiple procedures apply. | Bilateral Surgery (50) | 0 - 150% payment adjustment for bilateral procedures does NOT apply. | Physician Supervisions | 09 - Concept does not apply. | Assistant Surgeon (80, 82) | 2 - Payment restriction for assistants at surgery does not apply to this procedure... | Co-Surgeons (62) | 1 - Co-surgeons could be paid, though supporting documentation is required... | Team Surgery (66) | 0 - Team surgeons not permitted for this procedure. | Diagnostic Imaging Family | 99 - Concept Does Not Apply | APC Status Indicator | Inpatient Procedures, not paid under OPPS | Type of Service (TOS) | 2 - Surgery | Berenson-Eggers TOS (BETOS) | P1G - Major procedure - Other | MUE | 1 | CCS Clinical Classification | 148 - Other fracture and dislocation procedure |
This is a primary code that can be used with these additional add-on codes.
| 69990 | Addon Code MPFS Status: Restricted APC N ASC N1 PUB 100 CPT Assistant Article 1Microsurgical techniques, requiring use of operating microscope (List separately in addition to code for primary procedure) |
| 22 | Increased procedural services: when the work required to provide a service is substantially greater than typically required, it may be identified by adding modifier 22 to the usual procedure code. documentation must support the substantial additional work and the reason for the additional work (ie, increased intensity, time, technical difficulty of procedure, severity of patient's condition, physical and mental effort required). note: this modifier should not be appended to an e/m service. | 51 | Multiple procedures: when multiple procedures, other than e/m services, physical medicine and rehabilitation services or provision of supplies (eg, vaccines), are performed at the same session by the same individual, the primary procedure or service may be reported as listed. the additional procedure(s) or service(s) may be identified by appending modifier 51 to the additional procedure or service code(s). note: this modifier should not be appended to designated "add-on" codes (see appendix d). | 58 | Staged or related procedure or service by the same physician or other qualified health care professional during the postoperative period: it may be necessary to indicate that the performance of a procedure or service during the postoperative period was: (a) planned or anticipated (staged); (b) more extensive than the original procedure; or (c) for therapy following a surgical procedure. this circumstance may be reported by adding modifier 58 to the staged or related procedure. note: for treatment of a problem that requires a return to the operating/procedure room (eg, unanticipated clinical condition), see modifier 78. | 62 | Two surgeons: when 2 surgeons work together as primary surgeons performing distinct part(s) of a procedure, each surgeon should report his/her distinct operative work by adding modifier 62 to the procedure code and any associated add-on code(s) for that procedure as long as both surgeons continue to work together as primary surgeons. each surgeon should report the co-surgery once using the same procedure code. if additional procedure(s) (including add-on procedure(s) are performed during the same surgical session, separate code(s) may also be reported with modifier 62 added. note: if a co-surgeon acts as an assistant in the performance of additional procedure(s), other than those reported with the modifier 62, during the same surgical session, those services may be reported using separate procedure code(s) with modifier 80 or modifier 82 added, as appropriate. | 80 | Assistant surgeon: surgical assistant services may be identified by adding modifier 80 to the usual procedure number(s). | 82 | Assistant surgeon (when qualified resident surgeon not available): the unavailability of a qualified resident surgeon is a prerequisite for use of modifier 82 appended to the usual procedure code number(s). | AS | Physician assistant, nurse practitioner, or clinical nurse specialist services for assistant at surgery | GC | This service has been performed in part by a resident under the direction of a teaching physician |
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| Pre-1990 | Added | Code added. |
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