Reader Question:
Partial Hip Replacement
Published on Fri Feb 01, 2002
Question: Our hip surgeon did a revision of a total hip replacement, replacing the acetabular liner and femoral head. He only replaced the modular components. What is the correct code?
Arkansas Subscriber
Answer: Report 27134 (Revision of total hip arthroplasty; both components, with or without autograft or allograft) with modifier -52 (Reduced services) appended. When a revision arthroplasty involves the acetabular component(s), whether the liner or shell or both components are replaced has limited impact on the difficulty of the procedure. When only the femoral head (not the stem) is replaced, the procedure becomes much less complex. Because your physician only replaced the femoral head and left the existing stem in place, the reduced-services modifier is appropriate.
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