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Neurosurgery Coding Alert

Look for These Terms to Keep Laminotomy Straight From Laminectomy

Published on Tue Jan 27, 2009

These -occasional- modifiers let you report both procedures at the same level. You can stop struggling to differentiate 63001-63017 from 63020-+63044 if you equate "partial" with laminotomy and "complete/total" with laminectomy. Similarities in laminectomy and laminotomy procedures, and terminology, can make your job challenging. These expert tips will help you zoom in on the differences. Complete Removal = Laminectomy A laminectomy is traditionally the removal of the entire lamina from a vertebral segment, says Nancy L. Reading RN, BS, CPC, of Cedar Edge Medical Coding and Reimbursement in Centerfield, Utah. Neurosurgeons often perform laminectomies to treat spinal stenosis, says Marvel J. Hammer, RN, CPC, CHCO, owner of MJH Consulting, a healthcare reimbursement consulting firm in Denver. The surgery relieves pressure on the spinal cord and/or nerve roots by removing the lamina of the vertebra to widen the spinal canal and create more space for the spinal cord and nerves. Tip: [...]
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