Doc has a patient that originally had a total ellbow arthroplasty inserted by another physician. She developed problems and subsequently had 7-8 surgeries. My doc has taken her in because now the total elbow is infected. He took her in and removed the infected hardware from her elbow, inserted antibiotic spacer, took frozen cultures and closed wound. (CPT 24160 for removal, and 11981)
He will be going back after the infection is cleared up and inserting new elbow components. My question is what I would code when the new hardware is inserted. With the new 2013 Revision Total elbow the removal is included in that. Since I would have already removed the hardware at another surgical session, would I use modifiers -52-58 on 24371, and 11982-58.
Any help with this is greatly appreciated
Vicki
The Orthopaedic Center
Tulsa, OK
He will be going back after the infection is cleared up and inserting new elbow components. My question is what I would code when the new hardware is inserted. With the new 2013 Revision Total elbow the removal is included in that. Since I would have already removed the hardware at another surgical session, would I use modifiers -52-58 on 24371, and 11982-58.
Any help with this is greatly appreciated
Vicki
The Orthopaedic Center
Tulsa, OK