Neurosurgery Coding Alert

Hydrocephalus could be affecting patients needing these procedures.

Patients requiring meningocele/myelomeningocele repair often suffer from spina bifida, but there are other conditions that could also merit the repair. Hydrocephalus is a common associated condition with spina bifida, also known as spinal dysraphism.

We’ve put together a list of some of the ICD-10 codes you might find on the encounter notes for your surgeon’s repair.

Remember: This list is not exhaustive, nor is at list of approved diagnoses from any payer. Always code to the notes, and check your payer contract for approved ICD-10 codes for meningocele/ myelomeningocele repair:

Meningocele

CPT^® Codes

• 63700 (Repair of meningocele; less than 5 cm diameter)
• 63702 (… larger than 5 cm diameter)

ICD-10 Codes

• G91.1 (Obstructive hydrocephalus)
• G91.3 (Post-traumatic hydrocephalus, unspecified)
• G96.12 (Meningeal adhesions (cerebral) (spinal))
• G96.198 (Other disorders of meninges, not elsewhere classified)
• G96.811 (Intracranial hypotension, spontaneous)
• G97.83 (Intracranial hypotension following lumbar cerebrospinal fluid shunting)
• G97.84 (Intracranial hypotension following other procedure)
• M53.2X7 (Spinal instabilities, lumbosacral region)
• M53.2X8 (Spinal instabilities, sacral and sacrococcygeal region)
• M53.3 (Sacrococcygeal disorders, not elsewhere classified)
• M53.84 (Other specified dorsopathies, thoracic region)
• M53.85 (Other specified dorsopathies, thoracolumbar region)
• Q05.0 (Cervical spina bifida with hydrocephalus)
• Q05.1 (Thoracic spina bifida with hydrocephalus)
• Q05.2 (Lumbar spina bifida with hydrocephalus)

Myelomeningocele

CPT^® Codes

• 63704 (Repair of myelomeningocele; less than 5 cm diameter)
• 63706 (… larger than 5 cm diameter)

ICD-10 Codes

• G96.198 (Other disorders of meninges, not elsewhere classified)
• Q05.0 (Cervical spina bifida with hydrocephalus)
• Q05.1 (Thoracic spina bifida with hydrocephalus)
• Q05.2 (Lumbar spina bifida with hydrocephalus)
• Q05.3 (Sacral spina bifida with hydrocephalus)
• Q05.5 (Cervical spina bifida without hydrocephalus)
• Q05.6 (Thoracic spina bifida without hydrocephalus)
• Q05.7 (Lumbar spina bifida without hydrocephalus).