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Anesthesia Coding Alert

Reader Questions:

Choose the Best Code for Xiphoid Cartilage Injection

Published on Sat Mar 01, 2003

Question: How should I code an injection of xiphoid cartilage with a steroid and local anesthetic? North Carolina Subscriber Answer: Although you may be tempted to code this as a trigger point injection (20552, Injection[s]; single or multiple trigger point[s], one or two muscle[s]), it is closer to being a joint injection (20610*, Arthrocentesis, aspiration and/or injection; major joint or bursa [e.g., shoulder, hip, knee joint, subacromial bursa]). Some physicians might want to classify it as an intercostal nerve block (64420*, Injection, anesthetic agent; intercostal nerve, single), but a steroid injection really doesn't fall into this category.  
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