Wiki ACDF or cervical fusion with corpectomy?

[nan.coder]

Physician performed C5-6 discetomy, C6 partial corpectomy (removing more than 50% vertebral body) and instrumented fusion. Also C6-7 discectomy and instrumented fusion.

Disctomy is included in both ACDF and corpectomy.

Would this procedure be coded as 22551 (C6-7), 22554-59 and 63081-59 (C5-6) along with the instrumentation code 22845?

Thank you.

Nan

 

[rturner96]

ACDF with corpectomy

I would code as follows:

63081
22551-51
22552 (no modifier since an add-on code)
Plus appropriate instrumentation codes.

I am over cautious about the use of modifier 59, so any input on 59 vs 51 would be helpful.

Thanks.

Becky

 

[teridmac]

ACDF with corpectomy

I would be more inclined to code it as:

63081
22554-51 and
22585

and grafting and instrumentation, due to 22551 including discectomy and so does the corpectomy.

Just my opinion...

 

[dms979]

I agree with teridmac believe there is a coding alert on supercoder.com for confrimation
I had the a similiar senerio last week and that is what I billed.