78 vs 79

[esimonsen]

One of our docs did a ulnar nerve decompression during the global period for a total shoulder revision (same arm). Per the physician, the cubital tunnel compression was present prior to the shoulder surgery, but his symptoms worsened post-operatively and they went in to do the decompression 7 weeks after TSA. Would this be considered a 78 for complication or 79 for unrelated procedure since it was an issue prior to surgery but his symptoms after surgery prompted him to seek definitive treatment? Please advise

Thank you!

 

[mhstrauss]

One of our docs did a ulnar nerve decompression during the global period for a total shoulder revision (same arm). Per the physician, the cubital tunnel compression was present prior to the shoulder surgery, but his symptoms worsened post-operatively and they went in to do the decompression 7 weeks after TSA. Would this be considered a 78 for complication or 79 for unrelated procedure since it was an issue prior to surgery but his symptoms after surgery prompted him to seek definitive treatment? Please advise

Thank you!

It's unrelated. The second surgery has nothing to do with the patient healing from the first surgery (incision healing, pain control, etc.). Those are the things the global period covers.