Orthopedic Coding Alert
READER QUESTIONS:
Include Volar Plate Repair in 26370
Published on Mon Feb 06, 2006
Question: Our orthopedic surgeon repaired a patient's flexor pollicus longus (FPL) tendon and also repaired the patient's volar plate on the same digit. Which codes should we report for this procedure?
West Virginia Subscriber
Answer: You should report 26370 (Repair or advancement of profundus tendon, with intact superficialis tendon; primary, each tendon) for the FPL repair.
The National Correct Coding Initiative bundles the volar plate repair code (26548, Repair and reconstruction, finger, volar plate, interphalangeal joint) into 26370, so you shouldn't separately report 26548.
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