Wiki Arhtroscopic irrigation & debridement

[Jody Mortensen]

Can anyone please help me with the correct CPT code for the following ambulatory surgery: the patient is diagnosed as possible septic arthritis; taken to OR to do an irrigation & debridement of knee; diagnostic arthroscopy revealed no obvious purulent or infected material, the joint was throughly irrigated with multiple liters of antibiotic saline & a shaver was used to debride inflamed synovium. Do I only code CPT code 29871 or 29875 since the inflamed synovious was removed? There was no growth on the fluid culture taken & am confused on what ICD9 diagnosis code I should use also for the procedure if 29871 is coded since surgeon listed as possible. Any help would be greatley appreciated.

Thank you
Jody Hecht

 

[Bella Cullen]

I would go with 29875 and dx 727.00

 

[ammontagano]

29875 would be your better choice because the doc performed a synovectomy

 

[Jody Mortensen]

Thank you

Thank you for your quick responses. I love this site