Orthopedic Coding Alert

Reader Questions:

Stick to 20605 for Sacrococcygeal Injection

Question: What's the proper way to code a sacrococcygeal joint injection?

Michigan Subscriber

Answer: Codes 20600-20610 (Arthrocentesis, aspiration and/or injection -) describe joint injections.

The appropriate code for the sacrococcygeal joint injection is 20605 (- intermediate joint or bursa [e.g., temporomandibular, acromioclavicular, wrist, elbow or ankle, olecranon bursa]).-

Common mistake: Many coders find 64475 (Injection, anesthetic agent and/or steroid, paravertebral facet joint or facet joint nerve; lumbar or sacral, single level) tempting, but this code is inaccurate because there is no facet joint in the sacrococcygeal region.

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