Procedure Coding (CPT®):
31287 – Nasal/sinus endoscopy, surgical; with sphenoidotomy
Correct because the surgeon performed a surgical endoscopic sphenoidotomy to evaluate and treat sphenoid sinus injury.
No CSF leak repair was performed, so codes 31290–31291 are not appropriate.
31231-59 – Nasal endoscopy, diagnostic
Diagnostic endoscopy is separately reportable because:
It was performed to evaluate traumatic injury
It is not bundled into the surgical service when it provides distinct diagnostic information
Modifier -59 indicates a separate and distinct service per NCCI edits.
Diagnosis Coding (ICD-10-CM):
S02.109A – Unspecified fracture of base of skull, initial encounter for closed fracture
The anterior cranial fossa fracture with sphenoid sinus involvement qualifies as a skull base fracture
No CSF leak is documented
Correct 7th character “A” for initial encounter
Why Other Options Are Incorrect:
A – Incorrect format and duplicated CPT logic
B – 31267 = maxillary sinus, wrong sinus
D – 31291 includes CSF leak repair, which was not performed
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