OASIS Alert

Reader Question:

Look to Approach with Kyphoplasty

Question: Is the site resulting from a kyphoplasty procedure considered a surgical wound when answering M1340?

Answer: A percutaneous kyphoplasty procedure that results in a pinpoint needle puncture site, doesn't qualify as a surgical wound, CMS says in the July 2012 Quarterly OASIS Q&As.

But, if the kyphoplasty procedure involves an open approach, requiring a surgical incision, the resulting wound qualifies as a surgical wound for M1340, CMS says. Answer 1 -- Yes, patient has at least one (observable) surgical wound in this case.

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