AIS CODING FINAL STUDY GUIDE 2026
SOLVED QUESTIONS GRADED A+
⩥ Diffuse axonal injury (DAI) anatomical structure. Answer: Diffuse
axonal injury in AIS 2015 involves shearing of the cerebral white matter
axons due to rotational forces, coded as a severe brain injury under the
Head/Neck region.
⩥ Traumatic subarachnoid hemorrhage coding. Answer: In AIS 2015, a
traumatic subarachnoid hemorrhage is coded as a distinct head injury
under the Head/Neck region, separate from contusions or vascular
injuries, based on its anatomical location in the subarachnoid space.
⩥ Cranial nerve injury associated with facial fractures. Answer: The
facial nerve (VII) is commonly injured in facial fractures, particularly
those involving the temporal bone, and is coded as a nerve injury in the
Head/Neck region in AIS 2015.
⩥ Brainstem contusion coding compared to cerebral contusion. Answer:
Brainstem contusions are coded with higher AIS severity than cerebral
contusions in AIS 2015 due to the critical role of the brainstem in vital
functions, typically AIS 4 or 5.
⩥ Anatomical significance of the falx cerebri. Answer: The falx cerebri
is a dural fold separating the cerebral hemispheres. Injuries like subdural
,hematomas along the falx are coded under the Head/Neck region in AIS
2015.
⩥ Complete spinal cord transection coding. Answer: A complete spinal
cord transection is coded as a neurological injury in AIS 2015 under the
Spine region, with high severity (e.g., AIS 5) due to permanent
neurological deficit.
⩥ Brain injury with LOC less than 1 hour coding implication. Answer:
In AIS 2015, LOC <1 hour increases the AIS severity score by 1 for
brain injuries (e.g., concussion or contusion), reflecting greater clinical
impact.
⩥ Epidural hematoma anatomical structure. Answer: An epidural
hematoma occurs between the dura mater and the skull, coded as a head
injury in AIS 2015, often with high severity due to potential mass effect.
⩥ Peripheral nerve injury coding in upper extremity. Answer: Peripheral
nerve injuries (e.g., brachial plexus or median nerve) are coded as
neurological injuries under the Upper Extremity region in AIS 2015,
reflecting functional impairment.
⩥ Peripheral nerve injuries. Answer: Coded as neurological injuries
under the Upper Extremity region in AIS 2015, reflecting functional
impairment.
, ⩥ Cerebellar hemorrhage. Answer: Coded as a distinct head injury in
AIS 2015 under the Head/Neck region, separate from cerebral or
brainstem injuries due to its anatomical location.
⩥ Traumatic optic nerve (II) injury. Answer: Coded as cranial nerve
injuries in the Head/Neck region in AIS 2015, distinct from eye or brain
injuries.
⩥ Brain injury with midline shift greater than 5 mm. Answer: Increases
AIS severity in AIS 2015, often to AIS 5, due to significant mass effect
and neurological risk.
⩥ Reticular formation injuries. Answer: Located in the brainstem,
critical for consciousness and coded as brainstem injuries in AIS 2015,
with high severity (e.g., AIS 5).
⩥ Cauda equina injury. Answer: Coded as a spinal cord injury in AIS
2015 under the Spine region, reflecting its neurological significance.
⩥ Larynx and vocal cords injuries. Answer: Coded under the Head/Neck
region in AIS 2015 as they are anatomically part of the upper airway
structures within the neck.
⩥ Degloving injuries. Answer: Coded under the External body region in
AIS 2015, unless specified to a particular body region.
SOLVED QUESTIONS GRADED A+
⩥ Diffuse axonal injury (DAI) anatomical structure. Answer: Diffuse
axonal injury in AIS 2015 involves shearing of the cerebral white matter
axons due to rotational forces, coded as a severe brain injury under the
Head/Neck region.
⩥ Traumatic subarachnoid hemorrhage coding. Answer: In AIS 2015, a
traumatic subarachnoid hemorrhage is coded as a distinct head injury
under the Head/Neck region, separate from contusions or vascular
injuries, based on its anatomical location in the subarachnoid space.
⩥ Cranial nerve injury associated with facial fractures. Answer: The
facial nerve (VII) is commonly injured in facial fractures, particularly
those involving the temporal bone, and is coded as a nerve injury in the
Head/Neck region in AIS 2015.
⩥ Brainstem contusion coding compared to cerebral contusion. Answer:
Brainstem contusions are coded with higher AIS severity than cerebral
contusions in AIS 2015 due to the critical role of the brainstem in vital
functions, typically AIS 4 or 5.
⩥ Anatomical significance of the falx cerebri. Answer: The falx cerebri
is a dural fold separating the cerebral hemispheres. Injuries like subdural
,hematomas along the falx are coded under the Head/Neck region in AIS
2015.
⩥ Complete spinal cord transection coding. Answer: A complete spinal
cord transection is coded as a neurological injury in AIS 2015 under the
Spine region, with high severity (e.g., AIS 5) due to permanent
neurological deficit.
⩥ Brain injury with LOC less than 1 hour coding implication. Answer:
In AIS 2015, LOC <1 hour increases the AIS severity score by 1 for
brain injuries (e.g., concussion or contusion), reflecting greater clinical
impact.
⩥ Epidural hematoma anatomical structure. Answer: An epidural
hematoma occurs between the dura mater and the skull, coded as a head
injury in AIS 2015, often with high severity due to potential mass effect.
⩥ Peripheral nerve injury coding in upper extremity. Answer: Peripheral
nerve injuries (e.g., brachial plexus or median nerve) are coded as
neurological injuries under the Upper Extremity region in AIS 2015,
reflecting functional impairment.
⩥ Peripheral nerve injuries. Answer: Coded as neurological injuries
under the Upper Extremity region in AIS 2015, reflecting functional
impairment.
, ⩥ Cerebellar hemorrhage. Answer: Coded as a distinct head injury in
AIS 2015 under the Head/Neck region, separate from cerebral or
brainstem injuries due to its anatomical location.
⩥ Traumatic optic nerve (II) injury. Answer: Coded as cranial nerve
injuries in the Head/Neck region in AIS 2015, distinct from eye or brain
injuries.
⩥ Brain injury with midline shift greater than 5 mm. Answer: Increases
AIS severity in AIS 2015, often to AIS 5, due to significant mass effect
and neurological risk.
⩥ Reticular formation injuries. Answer: Located in the brainstem,
critical for consciousness and coded as brainstem injuries in AIS 2015,
with high severity (e.g., AIS 5).
⩥ Cauda equina injury. Answer: Coded as a spinal cord injury in AIS
2015 under the Spine region, reflecting its neurological significance.
⩥ Larynx and vocal cords injuries. Answer: Coded under the Head/Neck
region in AIS 2015 as they are anatomically part of the upper airway
structures within the neck.
⩥ Degloving injuries. Answer: Coded under the External body region in
AIS 2015, unless specified to a particular body region.
