Final answer:
Cord lesions and vertebral fractures are indeed coded separately, as they refer to distinct types of injuries; one affects the spinal cord and the other concerns the vertebral bones.
Step-by-step explanation:
Yes, cord lesions and vertebral fractures (fxs) are coded separately in medical coding. Cord lesions refer to damage to the spinal cord itself which may result from trauma, such as a motorcycle accident causing a hemisection of the spinal cord. This can lead to conditions like paraplegia or hemiplegia depending on the severity and location of the damage. On the other hand, vertebral fractures relate to the bony structure of the vertebrae and are coded differently, although they may occur simultaneously with spinal cord injuries and contribute to the overall severity of the patient's condition. The sensory results from a hemisection can be complicated, leading to varying degrees of sensation loss or neurological impairments.