I'm confused as to how the stimulation of a probe performed during a lateral approach of the spine is coded. Is this just a triggered EMG or is this a nerve conduction study? I do not see the elements documented for a nerve conduction study such as the amplitude and conduction velocity, so is this coded as 95870 because of the axial muscles being stimulated? Would this hold true for pedicle screw testing - a triggered EMG coded either 95861 or 95870 depending on the number of muscles per extremity tested?
This is the documentation for the probe stimulation:
'continuous directional stimulation with the utilization of a probe(s)and dilators to identify muscle and nerve proximity. Continuous communication of thresholds were conveyed to the surgeon during the stimulation stage as with external monitors at bedside to view threshold values.'
This is the documentation for the probe stimulation:
'continuous directional stimulation with the utilization of a probe(s)and dilators to identify muscle and nerve proximity. Continuous communication of thresholds were conveyed to the surgeon during the stimulation stage as with external monitors at bedside to view threshold values.'