Orthopedic Coding Alert
You Be the Coder:
Don't Count on PRP Injection Pay
Published on Fri Jul 01, 2005
Question: Our surgeon performed open reduction/internal fixation (ORIF) on a right intertrochanteric hip fracture using an intramedullary (IM) nail. He then injected Symphony growth factor. How should we code these services?
Michigan Subscriber
Answer: Because the surgeon used an IM nail to repair the fracture, you should report 27245 (Treatment of intertrochanteric, pertrochanteric, or subtrochanteric femoral fracture; with intramedullary implant, with or without interlocking screws and/or cerclage).
The plasma rich protein (PRP) injection (in this case, Symphony) does not add significantly to the procedure's complexity, and therefore you should not report any additional codes.
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