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Neurosurgery Coding Alert

Reader questions:

Choose Multiple Codes for Craniotomy, Encephalocele Repair

Published on Sat Jan 23, 2010

Question: The surgeon performed a bone flap craniotomy (left middle cranial fossa, extradural approach) and repair of encephalocele using stereotactic navigation software and an operating microscope. He also inserted a lumbar drain. How should I code the multiple parts of this procedure? Alaska Subscriber Answer: You'll include several codes on the claim for this session: • 62120 (Repair of encephalocele, skull vault, including cranioplasty) for the encephalocele repair • 62272 (Spinal puncture, therapeutic, for drainage of cerebrospinal fluid [by needle or catheter]) for the lumbar drain insertion • +61795 (Stereotactic computer-assisted volumetric [navigational] procedure, intracranial, extracranial, or spinal [List separately in addition to code for primary procedure]) for the navigation software • +69990 (Microsurgical techniques, requiring use of operating microscope [List separately in addition to code for primary procedure]) for the surgical microscope. Pay attention: Code +69990 is a column 2 code for 62120, according to the latest Correct Coding [...]
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