Eli's Rehab Report

Reader Question:

Compression Bandaging

Question: Can either 97504 (Orthotic[s] fitting and training, upper extremity[ies], lower extremity[ies], and/or trunk, each 15 minutes) or 97520 (Prosthetic training, upper and/or lower extremities, each 15 minutes) be used for compression bandaging training for upper extremity or lower extremity swelling secondary to lymphedema?

Alaska Subscriber

Answer: Wrapping and bandaging for prosthetic use is normally performed when preparing the patient's amputated limb for a new prosthesis. It sounds as though you are wrapping the limb specifically to treat lymphedema (457.1), with no prosthetic use in mind. If that is the case, the more accurate code is 97140 (Manual therapy techniques [e.g., mobilization/manipulation, manual lymphatic drainage, manual traction], one or more regions, each 15 minutes).

However, if the lymphedema is complicating the prosthetic use, and therefore you need to teach the patient how to wrap his limb to use the prosthetic more effectively, 97520 would be appropriate.

 

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