Wiki Removal of x-stop

[Kstrobel]

My surgeon is going to remove a x-stop and then will do a lumbar laminectomy. I am not familiar with the x-stop. Will the removal be included in the laminectomy code, a misc code or maybe 20680? thanks for any help you can give me.
The x-stop was done at a different facility.

 

[dms979]

Hi Karen!

I have an alert from the AANS seminar 7/2013 stating there is no code for removal of an intervertebral device- this would be part of an exploration of fusion. Do not use 20680 (removal of implant) for removing spine instrumentation.

I hope this helps
Donna. M. Schneider CPC