Neurosurgery Coding Alert

Question: How does one code for neurectomy of the sural nerve at the level of the ankle?Ohio SubscriberAnswer It depends on the purpose for excising this cutaneous sensory nerve. If one in performing a sural nerve biopsy for diagnostic purposes, use 64795 (Biopsy of nerve). If one is excising a neuroma, use 64782 (Excision of neuroma; hand or foot, except digital nerve). If one is harvesting a sural nerve to use as a nerve graft in another location, use 64890 (Nerve graft (includes obtaining graft), single strand, hand or foot; up to 4 cm length)-64898 (Nerve graft (includes obtaining graft), multiple strands (cable), arm or leg; more than 4 cm length) depending on whether single or multiple strands are harvested and whether more or less than a 4 cm graft is harvested.