Podiatry Coding & Billing Alert

Question: The patient has pain due to end stage osteoarthritis of the metatarsophalangeal joint of her great toe. My podiatrist made an incision in the skin over the affected joint at the base of the great toe. He dissected down through subcutaneous tissue, preserving the nerves and veins. My podiatrist then retracted the muscle tendon to gain access to the joint so he could fuse it. Next, he cut the joint capsule, entered the joint, and removed all the inflamed tissue from the joint cavity. He brought the bones of the joint in close proximity and fused the joint using K-wire. Lastly, he obtained hemostasis at the surgical site and closed the wound by suturing the soft tissue in layers. He placed the patient’s toe in a splint for four weeks. Which CPT^® code should I report for this procedure?

Washington Subscriber

Answer: This is an example of great toe arthrodesis. You should report 28750 (Arthrodesis, great toe; metatarsophalangeal joint) because your podiatrist performed performs arthrodesis of the metatarsophalangeal joint of the patient’s great toe.

Don’t miss: You should look to code 28755 (Arthrodesis, great toe; interphalangeal joint) if your podiatrist performs arthrodesis of an interphalangeal joint, instead of the metatarsophalangeal joint, of the great toe.