Fracture, dislocation or subluxation of spine due to birth injury

Description

A true fracture of the spine is very rare due to birth injury. A fracture is usually in the cervical area and follows a difficult footling breech vaginal delivery. Dislocation refers to the displacement of one of the cervical vertebra relative to another in the cervical spine. The trauma allows one vertebra to shift position over the vertebra below. If this dislocation is partial the term “subluxation” is used. The injury to the spine may be unilateral or bilateral. Dislocations may be stable or unstable referring to the degree of mobility and the extent of additional damage to the supporting ligaments.

Coding note from above levels

Conditions arising in the perinatal period, even though death or morbidity occurs later, should, as far as possible, be coded to chapter 19, which takes precedence over chapters containing codes for diseases by their anatomical site. For children less than 28 days old, assume that a reported condition developed in the perinatal period, unless the duration is stated and the onset was after the first completed week of life.

Exclusions from above levels

• KA40.2 – Birth injury to spine or spinal cord
• 01 – Certain infectious or parasitic diseases - acquired after birth
• 02 – Neoplasms