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Neurosurgery Coding Alert

Reader Question:

Check Bundle In Device Removal and Laminectomy

Published on Tue Dec 04, 2012

Question: How do we report the procedures described in the operative note below: "The previous intraspinous plating was dissected out, exposed, and removed. The lamina of L4 was also removed. The lamina of L5 felt mobile due to the fracture of the pedicle on the right. The diamond bur drill was then used to created bilateral troughs for bilateral laminectomy at that level. Intervening ligament of flavum at L5-S1 was cleared with Kerrison instruments to decompress the lateral recess. The foramina were re-explored on both sides of the L4-5 level and the exiting nerve roots appeared well decompressed. At L5-S1, similar foraminal exposure and exploration was done on the left side. In that area, there actually was some posteriorly displaced bone and disk material that did appear to compromise and posteriorly displace the exiting L5 nerve root. It was felt that this was the most likely source of the recurrent [...]
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