ED Coding and Reimbursement Alert

Question: I was unable to locate a CPT procedure code for checking compartment syndrome pressure. Does one exist?

Texas Subscriber

Answer: Your best code choice for this procedure is 20950 (Monitoring of interstitial fluid pressure [includes insertion of device, e.g., wick catheter technique, needle manometer technique] in detection of muscle compartment syndrome). According to CPT, this code describes the following service:

"The physician inserts an interstitial fluid pressure monitoring device into a muscle compartment using a wick catheter, needle, or other method. The physician checks the monitoring device for escalation of pressure, which indicates developing compartment syndrome and tissue ischemia. Once the data has been gathered, the catheter or needle is removed."