Reader Question:
Append -58 for Return to OR
Published on Mon Apr 19, 2004
Question: Our patient's lower leg was amputated three years ago, but he suffered a supracondylar femur fracture on the stump four weeks ago. Our surgeon then performed closed treatment and applied a cylinder cast with a suspender to keep it in place. Today we performed a planned cast change in the operating room. How should we code this?
Texas Subscriber Answer: You should report 29365-58 (Application of cylinder cast [thigh to ankle]; Staged or related procedure or service by the same physician during the postoperative period). It doesn't sound as if the patient's history of amputation made this procedure more complex, so you shouldn't report any additional codes to reflect the amputation. - You Be the Coder and Reader Questions were reviewed by Heidi Stout, CPC, CCS-P, coding and reimbursement manager at University Orthopaedic Associates in New Brunswick, N.J.
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