Neurosurgery Coding Alert

Here's why vertebral segments matter. Want picture perfect spinal instrumentation claims? You need to determine if the instrumentation is segmental or non-segmental. Good advice: -I would count the fixation points.Segmental is connected at the top, middle, and end. Nonsegmental is connected at the top and bottom,- says Rebecca Woodward, CPC, coding representative for MedVentures, LLC in High Point, N.C. Focus On This Non-Segmental Example Non-segmental posterior instrumentation attaches to the spine at two points -- the proximal and distal portions (top and bottom) of the rod or other device -- with no attachment to any vertebrae between those points. Example: A rod spanning from the first to fifth lumbar levels is attached to the spine at L1 and L5 but would not be attached at L2, L3, or L4. You may report non-segmental posterior instrumentation placement using +22840 (Posterior nonsegmental instrumentation [e.g., Harrington rod technique, pedicle fixation across one interspace,atlantoaxial transarticular [...]