Wiki Corpectomy question

[Jinx75]

If the surgeon removed the inferior portion of C4 and the superior portion of C5 would you code that as 63081/63082 for C4, C5 or would you code it as 63081 C4-5?

 

[aiverson]

gingersnap29
Networker Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: Kalamazoo Koders
Posts: 61




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The corpectomy code can be reported if the surgeon documents removal of at least 1/3 of the vertebral body in the thoracic and lumbar spine (50% for cervical). Discectomies above and below the corpectomy are included in the corpectomy code but the arthrodesis can be reported separately.

Looks like if your surgeon removed at least 50% of each the C4 and C5 then you can code 63081 and 63082