WENDYBHOLLOWAY
Contributor
Patient presents with progressive development of right knee pain, swelling and systemic response to suspected infection. Patient consulted in the EC where the EC provider did an aspiration of the right knee that yielded greater than 90,000 white blood cell synovial cell counts. Patient was urgently taken to the OR where Ortho provider performed the following:
Open complete synovectomy of the right knee
Irrigation and debridement of right septic knee
Bone drilling with irrigation and debridement for osteomyelitis of the distal femur/proximal tibia.
Following a complete synovectomy and thorough debridement, a 2.5mm drill was used to drill the distal femur and proximal tibia. Purulent appearing blood and material was resected. Surgeon proceeds to perform multiple drill holes that were passed in the proximal tibia and distal femur followed by significant irrigation of these locations.
I'm stumped on the open drilling: Would this be coded with the unlisted code - 27599 and compare with the arthroscopic code 29879?
Appreciate any and all advice.
Thank you,
Wendy B. Holloway, CPC
Colquitt Regional Health Systems
Physician Billing
Sterling Orthopedics
Sterling Spine Center
Open complete synovectomy of the right knee
Irrigation and debridement of right septic knee
Bone drilling with irrigation and debridement for osteomyelitis of the distal femur/proximal tibia.
Following a complete synovectomy and thorough debridement, a 2.5mm drill was used to drill the distal femur and proximal tibia. Purulent appearing blood and material was resected. Surgeon proceeds to perform multiple drill holes that were passed in the proximal tibia and distal femur followed by significant irrigation of these locations.
I'm stumped on the open drilling: Would this be coded with the unlisted code - 27599 and compare with the arthroscopic code 29879?
Appreciate any and all advice.
Thank you,
Wendy B. Holloway, CPC
Colquitt Regional Health Systems
Physician Billing
Sterling Orthopedics
Sterling Spine Center