Orthopedic Coding Alert

Reader Question:

Consider 27630 for Achilles Lesion Excision

Question: Our surgeon documented an excision for thickening of the Achilles tendon, and dictated a diagnosis of calcific Achilles tendonitis. Which CPT® and ICD-9 codes should we report?


South Carolina Subscriber

Answer: You should report 727.82 (Calcium deposits in tendon and bursa) as the diagnosis code for this procedure, because the surgeon referred to a calcific tendon. Watch out: Start getting your physician in the habit of specifying the site. This matters in ICD-10. For instance, if this condition occurs in the right foot and not in multiple sites, you would report M65.271 (Calcific tendonitis, right ankle and foot).

The calcification qualifies as a lesion, so the correct CPT® code is 27630 (Excision of lesion of tendon sheath or capsule [e.g., cyst or ganglion], leg and/or ankle]).

Other Articles in this issue of

Orthopedic Coding Alert

View All