Type III traum spondylolysis of sixth cervcal vert, 7thD

This code signifies a specific type of traumatic spinal injury involving the sixth cervical vertebra (C6). It describes a Type III spondylolisthesis, which is a bilateral fracture of the pars interarticularis with anterior displacement of the vertebral body, resulting from trauma. The "subsequent encounter" indicates the patient is receiving follow-up care for this fracture, which is currently healing routinely.

This code is appropriate for follow-up visits where a patient is being monitored for a previously diagnosed traumatic Type III spondylolisthesis of C6. Documentation should clearly state the injury type, the specific cervical vertebra involved (C6), and that the fracture is healing without complications. This would apply to office visits, physical therapy, or imaging studies performed during the healing phase.

• Ensure documentation specifies "Type III" spondylolisthesis and the C6 vertebra. Other types or levels require different codes.
• The "XD" seventh character indicates a subsequent encounter with routine healing; use "XA" for initial encounters or "XS" for sequela.
• Always code the underlying cause of the trauma (e.g., fall, motor vehicle accident) as an external cause code (V00-Y99) in addition to this diagnosis.