Quadriceps Tendon and the Patellar ligament :
I hope a brief note about the anatomy will clear our doubt.
The Quadriceps femoris (fourheaded femoral muscles) covers the main bulk anterior aspects and sides of the femur and has four parts: Rectus femoris, vastus femoris,Vastus intermedius and Vastus medialis, the three vastus are separable only with difficulty.
Quadriceps is the great extensor of the leg and all four combine to form a tendinous attachment to the tibia. The tendons of the all of them unite in the distal portion of the thigh to form a single strong broad “Quadriceps Tendon” and attach to the base of the patella, a sesamoid bone in the tendon , which in turn, is attached THROUGH the Patellar Ligament to the tibial tuberosity. However, the PatellarLigament is considered the continuation of the Quadriceps Tendon in which the Petella is embedded. This patellar ligament is the place where we look for the ‘tendon reflex'.
So the distal attachment of quad mucles through the quad tendon is Base of Patella and by patellar ligament to the tibial tuberosity.
Having known this anatomy, now let us figure out where to place the Quadriceps Tendon repair Code.
Obviously not 27664 which is for lower most extremity is “leg”.
There is a Code for Suture of Infrapatellar Tendon -27380.
The suture of quadriceps ( or hamstring ) Rupture ; Primary – 27385 This includes the muscular portion of quadriceps and the broad stumpy Q. Tendon, just above the base of patella. So the infrapatellar “patellar Tendon is different from Quadriceps muscle & Q.Tendon, for coding purpose also.-
ie to brief, above the patella and below the patella tendons are coded with different code number ,
27385 and 27380 respectively.
Now you assign the code of your surgery!
Thank you for your patience!!
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