Orthopedic Coding Alert

Question: How do we code an injection of Gerdy's tubercle? Do we report it as trigger point or tendon sheath injection? For trigger point, the diagnosis we would use is leg and knee pain, along with distal iliotibial band syndrome; this is not approved on the Medicare "list of approved diagnoses" for this procedure.

Alabama Subscriber

Answer: Gerdy's tubercle is a lateral tubercle of the tibia. It is the point where the fascia lata or iliotibial band inserts. Your surgeon is likely to be injecting in the insertion of the iliotibial band, you report code 20550 (Injection[s]; single tendon sheath, or ligament, aponeurosis [eg, plantar "fascia"])