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Neurology & Pain Management Coding:

Know Differences Before Coding Extremity Ultrasounds

Published on Fri May 30, 2025

Question: What is the difference between a complete and a limited ultrasound (US) of an extremity?

Kansas Subscriber

Answer: There are certain aspects of a US of an extremity that are required for both limited and complete US: Whether complete or limited, the US must be real-time and include image documentation.

Report a complete US with 76881 (Ultrasound, complete joint (ie, joint space and peri-articular soft-tissue structures), real-time with image documentation). Remember, to report a complete US, the procedure must focus on the complete joint: joint space and all soft-tissue structures.

If the US doesn’t focus on the complete joint, and instead looks at a few of the elements that would be required for a full US, it’s limited. You’ll report limited US with 76882 (Ultrasound, limited, joint or focal evaluation of other nonvascular extremity structure(s) (eg, joint space, peri-articular tendon[s], muscle[s], nerve[s], other soft-tissue structure[s], or soft-tissue mass[es]), real-time with image documentation). The documentation for 76882 should point out what elements the physician addressed during the limited US.

Chris Boucher, MS, CPC, Senior Development Editor, AAPC

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