Anesthesia Coding Alert

Question: What diagnosis should I report for cervical facet arthritis?

Washington Subscriber

Answer: When you look at ICD-9's alphabetic index under "arthritis, cervical," you're directed to also see "Spondylosis, cervical" and to review code 721.0. Spondylosis is an ankylosis of the vertebral bones or a degeneration of the spinal column, including an immobilization of the vertebral bones.
 
Because of these choices, your best diagnosis code depends on how specific your physician's documentation is.

Example: Many coders rely on 721.0 (Cervical spondylosis without myelopathy) for cervical spondylosis, cervical arthritis, cervical osteoarthritis or cervical spondylarthritis. If your provider includes documentation of myelopathy (or damage to the spinal cord from compression or another condition), you should look at 721.1 (Cervical spondylosis with myelopathy) instead.