Reader Question:
Don't Overlook Instrumentation in Spine Procedures
Published on Mon May 07, 2012
Question: Our surgeon did the following procedure:Removal of cervical plate C5-C7; anterior cervical discectomy, and allograft fusion and anterior instrumentation, C3-C5. How do we report this procedure? In specific, how do we report the removal of the cervical plate? Is 22855 (Removal of anterior instrumentation) the correct code for the removal of the cervical plate?Ohio SubscriberAnswer: Assuming that a two interspace discectomy was performed, for the C3-4 discectomy and arthrodesis that your surgeon does, you report 22551 (Arthrodesis, anterior interbody, including disc space preparation, discectomy, osteophytectomy and decompression of spinal cord and/or nerve roots; cervical below C2). For the C4-5 interspace, you include +22552 (Arthrodesis, anterior interbody, including disc space preparation, discectomy, osteophytectomy and decompression of spinal cord and/or nerve roots; cervical below C2, each additional interspace [List separately in addition to code for separate procedure]) for the same at C4. For cervical plate removal, you report 22855 (Removal of [...]
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