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Orthopedic Coding Alert

Orthopedic Coding:

Identify How to Report a Knee Joint Scar Excision

Published on Fri Jan 16, 2026

Question: How should I report an intra-articular scar excision? I’ve always been told to use the complex repair codes, but that doesn’t make sense to me since the excision is from inside the joint. Here is an excerpt from a current operative note for reference: Preoperative Diagnosis: 1. Painful right total knee arthroplasty 2. Arthrofibrosis right total knee arthroplasty 3. [...]
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