Reader questions:
PF resurfacing with medial arthroplasty
Published on Sat Nov 28, 2009
Question: The orthopedist performed a left knee open bicompartmental arthroplasty, including PF and medial compartments. He also resurfaced the PF joint and medial compartment. How should we code a PF resurfacing with a medial arthroplasty? West Virginia Subscriber Answer: Based on this information, you could begin with 27446 (Arthroplasty, knee, condyle and plateau; medial or lateral compartment) for the arthroplasty and submit 27438 (Arthroplasty, patella; with prosthesis) for the resurfacing. Mind the modifier: Correct Coding Initiative (CCI) edits list 27438 as a Column 2 code when paired with 27446, but you can report a modifier to distinguish between the services. Append modifier 59 (Distinct procedural service) to 27438 and include documentation supporting the claim for two services.
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