Neurosurgery Coding Alert

Question: Can the placement of the Lanx's Aspen Spinous Process Fixation System be considered synonymous with spinous process fixation by wiring and reported as CPT code 22841(Internal spinal fixation by wiring of spinous processes (List separately in addition to code for primary procedure))?

New York Subscriber

Answer: The placement of plate and screw fixation systems to the spinous processes is reported with the unlisted code 22899. Code 22841 specifically refers to an interspinous wiring technique for fixation. This code carries no RVU value, as it was previously a bundled service in former spinal reconstruction codes before these were revised to separate arthrodesis from wiring.