I am not certain what your physician meant by "Joint Release" without seeing the Postoperative Diagnosis and/or the Description of Procedure. The term "implies" the release &/or removal of intra-articular scarring or adhesions (if present), and the release &/or removal of synovial & capsular scarring for a joint contracture resulting from a previous event. The CPT code that most closely would describe this would be 29898: Arthroscopic, Ankle, extensive debridement, which I would say would require the treatment of the anterior, medial, lateral, and posterior compartments of the joint. Anything less would be 29897: Arthroscopic, Ankle, limited debridement. I would say that Partial Synovectomy (29895) would probably be less of a procedure than was actually done.
Respectfully submitted, Alan Pechacek, M.D.
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