Orthopedic Coding Alert
Let This Tool Guide You When You Encounter Acronyms
If your surgeon's notes puzzle you, check this chart to decipher them
We polled our experts and established a list of the most frequently documented abbreviations and acronyms that orthopedic coders encounter. You can decipher your surgeon's notes a little easier if you use this listing of abbreviations and their meanings.
Acronym Definition
AC Acromioclavicular joint
ACDF Anterior cervical diskectomy with fusion
ACI Autologous chondrocyte implantation
ACL Anterior cruciate ligament
ADL Activities of daily living
AVN Avascular necrosis
AP Anterior posterior, or Anteroposterior
APB Abductor pollicis brevis
APL Abductor pollicis longus
ASD or ASAD Arthroscopic sub-acromial decompression
ASIS Anterior superior iliac spine
ATL Achilles tendon lengthening
BKA Below-knee amputation
BR Brachioradialis
BTB Bone tendon bone autograft
CC Chief complaint, or Costochondral
CMC Carpometacarpal
CP Chondromalacia patellae, or Cerebral palsy
CRPS Complex regional pain syndrome
CS Corticosteroid
CSF Cerebrospinal fluid
C-spine Cervical spine
CT Computed tomography
CTR Carpal tunnel release
CTS Carpal tunnel syndrome
DDH Developmental dysplasia of hip
DIP Distal interphalangeal
DISH Diffuse idiopathic skeletal hyperostosis
DR Dorsal root
DRUJ Distal radio-ulnar joint
DVT Deep vein thrombosis
Dx Diagnosis
DEXA Dual energy x-ray absorptiometry
ECRB Extensor carpi radialis brevis
ECRL Extensor carpi radialis longus
ECU Extensor carpi ulnaris
EDC Extensor digitorum communis
EMG Electromyography
EPL Extensor pollicis longus
Ex-Fix External fixation device
FB Foreign body
FCR Flexor carpi radialis
FCU Flexor carpi ulnaris
FDP Flexor digitorum profundus
FDS Flexor digitorum superficialis
Fluoro Fluoroscopic guidance
FPL Flexor pollicis longus
Fx Fracture
HC Hydrocodone
HNP Herniated nucleus pulposus
IA Intra-articular
ICS Intercostal space
I&D Incision and drainage, or Irrigation and debridement
IDET Intradiscal electrothermal therapy
IM Intramuscular, or Intramedullary
IP Interphalangeal
ITB Iliotibial band
ITT Internal tibial torsion
LCL Lateral collateral ligament
LR Lateral release
LS Lumbosacral
MCL Medial collateral ligament
MCP Metacarpophalangeal
MIS Minimally invasive surgery
MMR Medial meniscal repair
MMT Medial meniscal tear
MRI Magnetic resonance imaging
MTP Metatarsophalangeal
NCCI National Correct Coding Initiative
NCS Nerve conduction study
NSAID Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug
OA Osteoarthritis
OATS Osteochondral autograft transfer system
OCD Osteochondritis dissecans
OM Osteomyelitis
ORIF Open reduction internal fixation
OT Occupational therapy
PCL Posterior cruciate ligament
PF Patello-femoral
PKR Partial knee replacement
PIP Proximal interphalangeal
PLIF Posterior lumbar interbody fusion
PT Physical therapy, or Patient
RA Rheumatoid arthritis
RCL Radial collateral ligament
RCR Rotator cuff repair
RCT Rotator cuff tear
RICE Rest, ice, compression, elevation
RLD Ruptured lumbar disk
RSD Reflex sympathetic dystrophy
RU Radioulnar
SAD Subacromial decompression
SB Spina bifida
SC Sacrococcygeal
SF Synovial fluid, or Spinal fluid
SI Sacroiliac
SLAC Scapholunate advanced collapse
SLAP Superior labral anterior-posterior
STSG Split thickness skin graft
SX Surgery, or Symptoms
TAL Tendoachilles lengthening
THR Total hip replacement
TLIF Transverse lumbar interbody fusion
TMT Tarsometatarsal
TKR Total knee replacement
UKR Unicondylar knee replacement
VA Videoarthroscopy
EPO Erythropoietin
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If your surgeon's notes puzzle you, check this chart to decipher them We polled our [...]
