I am new to ortho surgery coding. I am having trouble with the hemilaminectomy. I am told the note below is coded as 63047 and 63048. I was thinking that it would be 63030 and 69990 can anyone explain what I am missing.
Sharp skin incision was performed. Electrocautery dissection was performed to the posterior elements . A left paraspinal approach took place at L4-5. The level was confirmed with fluoroscopy. Self retaining retractors were placed. The microscope was brought in.
Decompression continued with hemilaminectomy on the left of L4 and L5 with medial facetectomies and foraminotomies. Gentle retraction of the neural elements revealed a large disk herniation with extruded componets. This was removed in 2 large fragment and 1 smaller fragment. Following decompression, the neural elements were completely free and clear. The entire decompression was performed with the use of the operative microscope.
Sharp skin incision was performed. Electrocautery dissection was performed to the posterior elements . A left paraspinal approach took place at L4-5. The level was confirmed with fluoroscopy. Self retaining retractors were placed. The microscope was brought in.
Decompression continued with hemilaminectomy on the left of L4 and L5 with medial facetectomies and foraminotomies. Gentle retraction of the neural elements revealed a large disk herniation with extruded componets. This was removed in 2 large fragment and 1 smaller fragment. Following decompression, the neural elements were completely free and clear. The entire decompression was performed with the use of the operative microscope.