Anesthesia Coding Alert

Question: How should we code sacrococcygeal joint injections?

Idaho Subscriber

Answer: The sacrococcygeal joint is a small cartilaginous articulation between the sacrum and the coccyx. Most providers look at 20600 (Arthrocentesis, aspiration and/or injection; small joint or bursa [e.g., fingers, toes]) to report this joint injection.

Pain in the coccyx or coccygodynia can be due to a direct fall or childbirth causing fracture dislocation of the coccyx vertebrae. If this type of pain is the reason for your provider's injection, report diagnosis 724.79 (Disorders of coccyx; other).

-- Answers to You Be the Coder and Reader Questions were provided by Scott Groudine, MD, an Albany, N.Y., anesthesiologist; Barbara J. Johnson, CPC, MPC, owner of Real Code Inc. in Moreno Valley, Calif.; and Marvel J. Hammer, RN, CPC, CCS-P, ACS-PM, CHCO, owner of MJH Consulting in Denver.