Orthopedic Coding Alert

Question: Our physician's notes state that he debrided a patient's long, pointy-looking greater tuberosity. He documented that he performed a tuberoplasty. What is tuberoplasty, and is it bundled with rotator cuff repair?

Washington Subscriber

Answer: You should be able to report both codes, but realize that CPT does not include a code for tuberoplasty. If the surgeon completed the procedure arthroscopically, you would submit 29827 (Arthroscopy, shoulder, surgical; with rotator cuff repair) with 29999 (Unlisted procedure, arthroplasty). Compare the tuberoplasty to 29826 (... decompression of subacromial space with partial acrominoplasty, with or without coracoacromial release) for reimbursement purposes (29826 has 17.41 national relative value units [RVUs]).

Tuberoplasty is a treatment option for massive, irreparable rotator cuff tears. The surgeon removes exostoses from the humerus and reshapes the tuberosity to create a smoother articulation.