Orthopedic Coding Alert
Reader Question:
Report 26546 or 26565 for Open Osteoclasis
Published on Tue Apr 01, 2003
Question: Our surgeon performed open osteoclasis to treat a right proximal fifth metacarpal fracture. Is there a code for this procedure? Michigan Subscriber Answer: Osteoclasis is a surgical bone fracture that the surgeon performs to correct alignment. Depending on your surgeon's documentation, you should report either 26546 (Repair nonunion, metacarpal or phalanx [includes obtaining bone graft with or without external or internal fixation]) or 26565 (Osteotomy; metacarpal, each).
If you cannot choose between these codes after reading the operative report, ask the orthopedist to select the more accurate of these two codes.
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