M.E.Müller: CCF: Explanation




			History Introduction Principle Anatomic Location The 3 Fracture "Types" of Long Bones The Coding of the Diagnosis The Qualifications How to use this Classification Glossary References

The Coding of the Diagnosis

The diagnosis of a fracture is obtained by combining its anatomic location with its morphological characteristic.

To express the diagnosis and in order to facilitate computer storage and retrieval, an alpha-numeric coding system was chosen. For the long bones and the pelvis, two numbers are used to express the location of the fracture. These are followed by a letter and two numbers which express the morphological characteristic of the fracture.

Alpha-numeric coding of the diagnosis for fractures of long bones.

Example of the coding of a fracture of a distal segment: 23-C3.2


Radius/Ulna	distal		complete articular fx	articular multifragm.	metaphyseal multifragm.

Diagnosis of 23-C3.2:
	Radius/Ulna distal, complete articular fracture, articular multifragmentary, metaphyseal multifragmentary

In the diagnosis, the important information on the associated lesion of the distal radio-ulnar joint is missing. The diagnosis can be completed with a Qualification to be chosen between the following possibilities:

radio-ulnar dislocation (fx styloid process)
simple fx ulnar neck
multifragmentary fx ulnar neck
fx ulnar head
fx ulnar head and neck
fx ulna proximal to the neck

The Qualification is chosen = Radio-ulnar joint dislocation, fracture of the styloid process.
Therefore, the coded full diagnosis is 23-C3.2 (1).


Full diagnosis of 23-C3.2(1):
	Radius/Ulna distal, complete articular fracture, articular multifragmentary, metaphyseal multifragmentary, radio-ulnar joint dislocation, fx styloid process