Wiki 22551 vs 22554

[nan.coder]

If physician performs corpectomy of more than 50% of vertebral body at C6, discectomy c5-6 and anterior fusion C5-6 - how would that procedure be coded?

Different physician performed anterior discectomy & fusion C3-4, C4-5 and C5-6 with partial corpectomy of more than 50% of vertebral bodies of C5 and C6. Any suggestions for codes?

 

[mhstrauss]

If physician performs corpectomy of more than 50% of vertebral body at C6, discectomy c5-6 and anterior fusion C5-6 - how would that procedure be coded?

Look at 63081 for the corpectomy, which includes discectomy immediately above and below that vertebra to prepare the interspace for fusion; 22554 for the arthrodesis.


Different physician performed anterior discectomy & fusion C3-4, C4-5 and C5-6 with partial corpectomy of more than 50% of vertebral bodies of C5 and C6. Any suggestions for codes?

63081 again here for the corpectomy C5, 63082 for the add'l level C6; 22554 and 22585 x 2 for the arthrodesis at those levels (C4-5, C5-6, C6-7). ACDF C3-4 would not be included in those codes, so can use 22551 with mod 59.


This of course is dependent on the op report being documented appopriately.
Hope this helps!