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ED Coding and Reimbursement Alert

Reader Questions:

Separate Ankle From Foot

Published on Mon Jan 09, 2006

Question: I received documentation stating:-Patient presented with small needle embedded in ankle. Physician used a C-arm (portable fluoroscopy unit) to help localize the foreign body. Made incision and located foreign body using needles placed in two planes. Grasped foreign body, removed it, irrigated wound and applied dressing.- How should I report this?


Pennsylvania Subscriber


Answer: The correct code for this procedure is 10121 (Incision and removal of foreign body, subcutaneous tissues; complicated).
 
Beware: While 28190 (Removal of foreign body, foot; subcutaneous), 28192 (- deep) or 20103 (Exploration of penetrating wound [separate procedure]; extremity) might seem appropriate initially, remember that CPT does not consider the foot and the ankle to be the same area. In your scenario, the physician performed the procedure on the ankle, and these codes are for foot procedures.    
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