"Alligators All Around" and the ICD-10 code set. (14th February 2017)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Legatt, Alan D.
• Is Part Of: Neurology. Volume 88:Number 7(2017)
• Page Start: 716
• Page End: 717
• Publication Date: 2017-02-14
• Subjects: Neurology -- Periodicals; Neurology -- Periodicals; Neurologie -- Périodiques; 616.8
• DOI: 10.1212/WNL.0000000000003602
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0028-3878

Abstract

Abstract : With the changeover from ICD-9 to ICD-10 codes has come a tremendous expansion in the number of diagnosis codes, from 14, 025 to 69, 823, 1 covering an amazing number of conditions. One newspaper story I read pointed out that there are codes for being bitten by an alligator and for being sucked into a jet engine. I investigated further, 2 and found out that there are actually 12 separate codes for encounters with an alligator (table 1). It is surprising that there are not separate codes for alligator-related injuries to the left vs the right side of the body, given the ICD-10 penchant for identifying laterality whenever possible (and even when it is not possible—there are separate codes for aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage from the "left anterior communicating artery, " I60.22, from the "right anterior communicating artery, " I60.21, and from an "unspecified anterior communicating artery, " I60.20).