Orthopedic Coding Alert

Reader Question:

Sliding Graft

Question: What is a sliding graft, and how should I code for it? My physician indicated this on an operative report for a tibia repair.

Kentucky Subscriber

Answer: A sliding graft is when the physician removes bone but leaves the muscles and tissue intact and slides the grafted bone into the defect in the same area. This is done because the bone is still alive and hasnt lost its blood supply. Code 27722 (repair of nonunion or malunion, tibia; with sliding graft) accurately describes the procedure your physician performed.

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