You Be the Coder:
Determine Nature and Location of Spinal Mass
Published on Tue Dec 04, 2012
Question: Our surgeon did a cervical laminotomy from C6-T1 with resection of a spinal mass. Plates and screws were used to close the bone. How can we report this procedure? New Jersey Subscriber Answer: There is insufficient information to provide specific coding guidance. The location of the spinal mass (extradural, intradural/extramedullary, or intradural extramedullary) as well as its nature (neoplastic or non-neoplastic) would be required to determine which regional spine code would be appropriate among codes 63265 (Laminectomy for excision or evacuation of intraspinal lesion other than neoplasm, extradural; cervical) - 63285 (Laminectomy for biopsy/excision of intraspinal neoplasm; intradural, intramedullary, cervical). The nature of the plates and screws (lateral mass fixation or osteoplastic laminectomy with reconstruction) would be required to determine if the fixation is reported as 22842 (Posterior segmental instrumentation [e.g., pedicle fixation, dual rods with multiple hooks and sublaminar wires]; 3 to 6 vertebral segments [List separately in [...]
You’ve reached your limit of free articles. Already a subscriber? Log in.
Not a subscriber? Subscribe today to continue reading this article. Plus, you’ll get:
