Neurosurgery Coding Alert

Reader Question:

Do Not Miss the Bone Grafts in Cranioplasty

Published on Mon Sep 05, 2011

Question: How should we report the artificial bone graft for cranioplasty?

Ohio Subscriber

Answer: You report 62142 (Removal of bone flap or prosthetic plate of skull) for the removal of an artificial graft) or 62143 (Replacement of bone flap or prosthetic plate of skull) for the replacement of the same. When your surgeon does a cranioplasty utilizing a graft that is not surgically obtained, you would most likely use 62146 (Cranioplasty with autograft [includes obtaining bone grafts]; up to 5 cm diameter) or 62147 (Cranioplasty with autograft [includes obtaining bone grafts]; larger than 5 cm diameter). Code 62140 (Cranioplasty for skull defect; up to 5 cm diameter) and 62141 (Cranioplasty for skull defect; larger than 5 cm diameter) are the typical cranioplasty codes used.

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