Orthopedic Coding Alert
Determine Extent in Bone Debridement
Question: A post ankle arthroplasty patient presented with hindfoot pain and impingement and our surgeon did a subfibular debridement/ostectomy. How can we report this procedure?
Answer: You will need more details of the procedure to be able to select an appropriate code. Based on the existing information, you may report 27641 (Partial excision [craterization, saucerization, or diaphysectomy] bone [e.g., osteomyelitis]; fibula). If the cause of impingement was osteophytes or exostosis, you report code 27635 (Excision or curettage of bone cyst or benign tumor, tibia or fibula). You can report 718.87 (Other joint derangement not elsewhere classified involving ankle and foot) for the diagnosis.
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Orthopedic Coding Alert
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