Orthopedic Coding Alert

The February 2001 Orthopedic Coding Alert contained an error in a reader question on page 16. In the question titled Acromioplasty and Acromionectomy, the reader meant to ask when to use 23130 and 23415.

Instead, the question appeared with codes 23130 and 23145 and, therefore, the answer was misleading. The correct answer is that 23130 (acromioplasty or acromionectomy, partial, with or without coracoacromial ligament release) should be used only for a partial acromioplasty or a true acromionectomy, otherwise 23415 (coracoacromial ligament release, with or without acromioplasty) is the correct code for the rotator cuff repair.