Neurosurgery Coding Alert

Question: Patient underwent anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF) at C5-6 and C6-7 and hemi-corpectomy with spinal decompression at C6. The operative note reads as under: "The C6-7 level was approached. This level had more severe stenosis, significant cord signal changes, and substantial disk-osteophyte complex. The annulus was incised with a #15 blade and the anterior osteophytes removed, gaining access to the disk space. Anterior two-thirds of the disk material was removed with straight and angle curets and pituitary rongeurs. Going posteriorly, remaining disk material was also removed. The significant disk-osteophyte complex noted was difficult to remove without performing additional hemi-corpectomy. Therefore, a hemi-corpectomy of C6 was done for improved exposure of C6-7 level and then posterior osteophytes at both C6 and C7 were removed. The hemi-corpectomy of C6 was completed and all posterior osteophytes were removed using diamond-tipped burr and #1 curet. Posterior longitudinal ligament was also taken down [...]