Eli's Rehab Report

READER QUESTIONS:

Select Nerve Block CPT Based on Anatomy

Question: What should I report for the following:
 

  • Main diagnosis: supraorbital neuralgia (code???)
     
  • Secondary Dx: tension headache (307.81 )
     
  • Procedure performed: supraorbital nerve block and supratrochlear nerve block.

    These nerve blocks are forehead-region anesthesia blocks. The nerves per se are in the cranial region. There is no specific CPT code for these blocks.


    Kentucky Subscriber


    Answer: Your best bet is to report 64400 (Injection, anesthetic agent; trigeminal nerve, any division or branch) for the procedure you describe. Both of these nerves are small branches of the first division (ophthalmic nerve) of the trigeminal nerve (cranial nerve V).

    Also, your diagnosis code for supraorbital neuralgia would be 350.1 (Trigeminal neuralgia [tic douloureux, trigeminal neuralgia NOS and trifacial neuralgia]), a common diagnosis for neurogenic pain.

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