Orthopedic Coding Alert
Weaver-Dunn Procedure
Question: Our orthopedist documented a "Weaver-Dunn procedure." Which code should we assign for this surgical service?
Pennsylvania Subscriber
Answer: Orthopedists perform Weaver-Dunn procedures to repair acromioclavicular (AC) joint separation. During the surgery, the physician uses a coracoacromial ligament to reconstruct two other torn ligaments that often tear during severe AC joint separations. You should report 23550 (Open treatment of acromioclavicular dislocation, acute or chronic) for this procedure.
If the orthopedist uses tissue other than the coraco-acromial ligament to repair the tear (such as hamstring or cadaveric tendon), you should report 23552 (Open treatment of acromioclavicular dislocation, acute or chronic; with fascial graft [includes obtaining graft]) instead of 23550.
Orthopedic Coding Alert
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Weaver-Dunn Procedure
Test your coding knowledge. Determine how you would code this situation before looking at the [...] - Reader Question:
Dont Report E/M for Warfarin Visit
Question: Our orthopedists often give patients warfarin following hip and knee replacement surgery. We usually [...] - Reader Question:
Append -53 Only With Anesthesia
Question: We were about to start anesthesia on a total knee replacement (27447) patient when [...] - Reader Question:
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Question: What is the difference between the codes in the 20550-20553 series? I know the [...] - Reader Question:
Use -47 If Surgeon Performs Anesthesia
Question: I administered anesthesia to a patient before performing a bunionectomy and Chevron osteotomy. How [...] - Reader Question:
Report 62310-62311 for Single Epidurals
Question: Should we report 62318 or 62319 when the orthopedist percutaneously inserts a catheter to [...] - Reader Question:
Append -22 for TKA Conversion
Question: How should we report conversion of a total knee arthroplasty (TKA) for a patient [...] - Reader Question:
Report 99141 for Conscious Sedation
Question: We recently treated a dislocated shoulder while we had the patient under conscious sedation. [...] - Correction:
Graft Harvest/Insertion With 25447
The February 2003 Orthopedic Coding Alert article "Rule of Thumb: 25447 Includes Trapezium Excision" should [...]
