Wiki second opinion- Bankart/remplissage with posterior labrum repair

lchiriac

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Hello everyone, I am looking for a second opinion for the next scenario. Based on documentation, would you bill the 29806-22 and 29807, or just the 29806-22?
Thank you!
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Procedure In Detail: The patient was met in preoperative holding on the morning of 01/13/2026. Again all risks and benefits regarding the above indicated procedure were discussed with the patient. The patient stated that he understood and wished to proceed with surgery as recommended and previously discussed. After appropriate patient identification was completed, the right upper extremity was marked as correct operative site. The patient was then taken back to operative suite #6 at Intercommunity Hospital. Once in the operating room, the patient was safely transferred over to the OR table. At this time care was then turned over to the anesthesiologist who provided an interscalene regional nerve block to the right upper extremity followed by endotracheal intubation. Please refer to anesthesia notes for details. Once all lines and tubes were appropriately secured, the patient was then placed into the left lateral decubitus position. Time was taken to confirm that all bony prominences were well padded and that the axillary neurovascular structures of the left upper extremity were appropriately suspended. Bean bag was used to hold his position. At this time under general anesthesia the right glenohumeral joint was passively ranged and there appeared to be a 1+ instability with axial load and shift. SCDs were placed to bilateral lower extremities along with a Bair Hugger to the lower body and legs. The right upper extremity was then prepped and draped in normal sterile fashion. An operative time-out was completed. All parties agreed the right upper extremity is the correct operative site. The patient's right arm was then appropriately suspended with the Arthrex 3 point shoulder suspension system. At this time, the patient did receive 2 g of Ancef for antimicrobial prophylaxis per standard surgical protocol.

An 11 blade scalpel was then used to make a skin incision over the posterior lateral aspect of the acromion. Using a blunt trocar then atraumatically established a posterior standard viewing portal. Arthroscope was then introduced and diagnostic arthroscopy commenced. On diagnostic arthroscopy there was evidence of anterior glenoid fracture with medial displacement and attached anterior capsular tissue. The patient also did have a Buford complex. There was significant glenohumeral synovitis globally. The long head of the biceps tendon was intact. There did appear to be a SLAP lesion that extended into the posterior labrum all the way to the 7:30 position. At this time, a standard anterior working portal site was established using outside-in technique with the 18-gauge spinal needle through the rotator interval. Care was taken to make this portal incision as low as possible, but immediately superior to the superior border of subscapularis tendon. The portal site was then dilated in standard fashion and an 8.25 mm self-retaining cannula was then placed. A shaver was then used to debride the frayed labral edges. A tissue elevator was then used to identify the medialized anterior fracture fragment and to mobilize the fracture fragment. The shaver was then used to debride any fibrinous tissue at the fracture site and to establish good bleeding bone to encourage bone-to-bone healing once the anterior glenoid fracture fragment is reduced and stabilized. I then established an anterior superior portal site using outside-in technique with 18-gauge spinal needle through the most superior aspect of the rotator interval immediately off the anterior lateral aspect of the acromion. The arthroscope was then switched to the anterior superior portal site. At this time I then turned my attention to the posterior glenoid and Hill-Sachs lesion. An 8.25 self-retaining cannula was then placed into the posterior portal site. The shaver was then used followed by a ring curette to debride the fibrinous tissue within the Hill-Sachs lesion on the proximal humerus. Based on the anterior glenoid fracture and the dimensions of the Hill-Sachs lesion, I determined this lesion to be an engaging Hill-Sachs lesion also known as an off track lesion, therefore requiring an arthroscopic Remplissage. An 18-gauge spinal needle was then used to triangulate a separate arthroscopic portal site to complete the placement of the Remplissage anchors. An 11 blade scalpel was then used to make a skin incision over the posterior lateral aspect of the shoulder followed by placement of a 7 mm cannula within the subdeltoid space. Two 2.6 mm knotless FiberTak anchors were then placed in standard fashion through the cannula, taking care to preserve an appropriate tissue bridge for the Remplissage. Once the anchors were seated, they were clamped to be later converted and tightened at the end of the case. A probe was then used to probe the posterior labral tear at the 7:30 position and confirmed that it was a full-thickness tear requiring separate fixation. The posterior glenoid was then gently debrided for later posterior labral repair. An arthroscopic grasper was then used to appropriately confirm that the anterior fracture fragment along with the anterior capsular tissue was appropriately mobilized and was able to reduce to its anatomic position on the anterior glenoid. At this time, I then turned my attention to placing three 1.8 mm knotless FiberTak anchors along the fracture margin of the anterior glenoid. Once all anchors were replaced, I then used a Suture Lasso to shuttle the repair stitch around the fracture fragment and through the capsule labral tissue. Once all 3 repair sutures were shuttled, I then converted the anchors to the knotless mechanism. In a sequential fashion, I then tightened the sutures while holding the fracture fragment reduced in its anatomic position. Once I had the fracture fragment in its position all sutures were appropriately tightened and held the fracture fragment appropriately compressed against the anterior glenoid. Once all 3 sutures were final tightened, the sutures were then cut flush. A probe was used to probe the anterior glenoid repair which appeared stable with excellent compression. A bipolar wand was then used to debride the frayed anterior capsular tissue. Attention was then turned back to the posterior labral tear and standard steps to place a knotless 1.8 mm FiberTak anchor at the 7 o'clock position were completed followed by use of a Suture Lasso and passing the repair stitch around the torn posterior labrum. This was then shuttled through the knotless mechanism and tightened. Upon final tightening, there was excellent reduction and compression of the posterior labral tear. Suture was then cut. A probe was then used to probe the remainder aspects of the labrum which appeared to be intact. Attention was then turned to the originally placed Remplissage anchors and these sutures were then converted in a knotless horizontal mattress configuration. These sutures were then sequentially tightened and then cut leaving a short tail. Care was taken to ensure that the suture held the tissue only within the subdeltoid space. Final pictures of the arthroscopic repair were obtained confirming anatomic reduction of the anterior glenoid fracture fragment along with repair of the anterior capsular tissue and with repair of the posterior labral tear with associated Remplissage. On my final pictures the humeral head appeared to be appropriately centered on the glenoid without any incidence of instability. All cannulas and instruments were removed followed by removal of the arthroscope. Arthroscopic incision sites were then closed with 3-0 nylon. Dry sterile dressings were then placed. The patient was then placed into an arm sling. All drapes were removed. That concludes the operative procedure. There were no complications.

Final counts for sharps, sponges, and instruments were appropriate and all accounted for.

Care was then turned over to the anesthesiologist who extubated the patient without any complications. Please refer to her notes for details.

Indication For Modifier 22: Modifier 22 was indicated in addition to the CPT code 29806 due to the additional procedure of the Remplissage. Remplissage procedure added additional difficulty and time to the standard surgical case.
 
29806+22.
No SLAP repair was performed.
Dr. Raizman, I have a surgery similar to this one. I am having difficulty coding. I have researched, and everything I have found is different in reporting remplissage. One says to code 29806 -22, another says to code 29806-LT, 29806 -59 lt, and 29806 -lt, 29999-lt and compare it to 29827. I am so confused. What is your suggestion on how to code this properly? Here is the op note jsut in case you need it.
POSTOPERATIVE DIAGNOSES:
1. Left shoulder Bankart lesion with shoulder instability.
2. Left shoulder Hill-Sachs deformity.
PROCEDURES PERFORMED:
1. Left shoulder arthroscopy with labral repair.
2. Left shoulder arthroscopy with remplissage via infraspinatus tenodesis.
3. Left shoulder arthroscopy with extensive debridement.
On the morning of surgery, the patient was met in the
preoperative holding area. Prior to initiation of any medication, the operative extremity was marked with
indelible pen. The appropriate laterality was confirmed verbally with the patient. Any remaining questions
were answered in their entirety. The patient was taken to the operative suite, where general anesthesia
with an LMA was administered by the Anesthesia Team. He was first underwent an exam under
anesthesia at that time. He had greater than two quadrants of anterior glide with hyperlaxity in the
anterior direction when compared with the contralateral side. I was able to dislocate and then relocate
him. He did not have any increased glide in the posterior direction. No increased sulcus. We then placed
the patient in the lateral decubitus position with the affected extremity aimed to the ceiling. An axillary roll
was used. The extremities were padded at all bony prominences. The left upper extremity was prepped
and draped in usual sterile fashion. Formal time-out to include the administration of antibiotics, appropriate
laterality, availability of all necessary implants, and any questions or concerns by surgical team were
addressed and confirmed.
I then marked out the bony landmarks of the lateral portion of the shoulder to include the lateral acromion,
the scapular spine, the AC joint, anterior clavicle and Neviaser portal as well as the coracoid. I used an 11
blade to make an incision for the posterior portal. A blunt scope trocar was then entered into the posterior
glenohumeral joint. The arthroscope was introduced and a diagnostic arthroscopy was completed. There
was a large anterior to anteroinferior labral tear with some minimal appreciable anterior bone loss. There
was an appreciable Hill-Sachs deformity. With rotation, it was non-engaging. There was no obvious tear
of the SLAP or biceps labral complex. He did have significant grade 3 chondromalacia present adjacent
to the labral tear on the humeral head. There was small focus of cartilage loss on the glenoid, but the
majority of the cartilage was intact. The rotator cuff appeared unremarkable except for the undersurface
area of the infraspinatus that showed injury secondary to his Hill-Sachs deformity. The biceps was
maintained normally in the sling and in normal position without tearing.
Focus was then turned on creating working portals. A high anterosuperior lateral portal was created and a
6 mm cannula was introduced. I then placed an anterior mid glenoid portal just superior to the
subscapularis and an 8.25 mm cannula was placed there. Once the portals were created, I used an
arthroscopic shaver with a liberator to define the labral tearing. He did have some transition of the tear
around to the posteroinferior glenohumeral ligament. At that time, I turned my attention to placement of a
7 o'clock anchor. First, I used the Arthrex percutaneous kit to create a low posterior portal
percutaneously. Once I had appropriate trajectory, the drill guide was introduced and a 1.8 mm FiberTak
anchor was placed near the posteroinferior glenohumeral ligament. I then turned my camera to the
anterosuperior portal and used a lasso through the posterior portal to advance the posteroinferior
glenohumeral ligament through the capsule and the labrum. This allowed us to plicate the posteroinferior
capsular tissue. Once I was happy with this anchor placement, I then through the same portal was able to
visualize the Hill-Sachs lesion. I removed the posterior cannula from inside the joint to the subacromial
space over the top of the infraspinatus tendon. I then placed two 1.8 mm FiberTak anchors into the
Hill-Sachs defect through the infraspinatus tendon to allow for later tenodesis to complete the remplissage
via infraspinatus repair/tenodesis into the defect. I first placed the inferior anchor and then placed the
superior anchor. I provisionally passed a knotless mechanism, but did not completely tighten it at this time.
I then removed the cannula and with a switching stick, reestablished the posterior portal. I then moved
the camera back to the posterior portal and began working on the anterior portion of the labrum. At the
anteroinferior portion, I placed another 1.8 mm FiberTak anchor. The suture lasso was passed through the
anteroinferior glenohumeral ligament and labral tissue to allow for anterior capsular plication. After
passage of this, I then passed a large FiberTape in a mattress fashion through the superior portion of the
anteroinferior glenohumeral ligament and the anterior capsule and passed this through an Arthrex
PushLock anchor. The drill hole was made and the anchor was placed with nice restoration of the
anterior and inferior bumper. There was one remaining portion of anterior capsular tissue just inferior to
the subscapularis that I placed an additional 1.8 mm FiberTak anchor through in a similar fashion to
complete the anterior plication. This was below the 3 o'clock position in the sublabral foramen. This
completed the anterior labral repair.
Viewing from the anterosuperior portal, I then sequentially tightened the remplissage anchors. This
completed the remplissage via infraspinatus tenodesis into the defect.
I then used a bird-beak with a 0 PDS through the posterior portal to close the posterior portal. All
permanent arthroscopic images were saved. Viewing from the anterosuperior portal, there was great
restoration of the capsular bumper at the posteroinferior, anteroinferior and anterior portions of the glenoid.
There was good centering of the humeral head. No obvious translation. All instruments were removed.
Surgical counts were correct. I drained the excess fluid from the sutures. The portals were closed with
3-0 nylon sutures. A sterile dressing was applied. The patient was placed into abduction sling. He was
awakened from anesthesia and transferred to PACU in stable condition.
POSTOPERATIVE PLAN: The patient will be on the capsulorrhaphy and remplissage protocol. I will
plan to see him in the office in two weeks for suture removal and assurance of good early recovery in
appropriate motion. He will be in a sling for a minimum of six weeks. He has aspirin for DVT
chemoprophylaxis and appropriate postoperative pain control. He will plan to contact the office or present
to the nearest emergency room with any acute medical conditions.
 


It's 29806. You *might* add a 22. Not seeing much in the way to "justify" a 22. See the blurb at the very end of the original post in this thread.
 
AAOS has firmly come down as saying remplissage is NOT coded as a cuff repair. It should be coded as an instability repair/capsulorraphy with a -22 modifier.
N.
 
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