Orthopedic Coding Alert

Question: The surgeon performed a lateral retinacular release with patelloplasty, where he smoothed the medial facet of the patella. How should we code the patelloplasty?

Delaware Subscriber

Answer: Because the release and patelloplasty were in different compartments, submit G0289 (Arthroscopy, knee, surgical, for removal of loose body, foreign body, debridement/shaving of articular cartilage [chondroplasty] at the time of other surgical knee arthroscopy in a different compartment of the same knee). Include a note in Box 19 of the claim form indicating the patellofemoral compartment ("G0289 patellofemoral compartment"). The lateral retinacular release documentation is selfexplanatory.