Orthopedic Coding Alert

 If your surgeon's notes puzzle you, check this chart to decipher them  We polled our experts and established a list of the most frequently documented abbreviations and acronyms that orthopedic coders encounter. You can decipher your surgeon's notes a little easier if you use this listing of abbreviations and their meanings. Acronym     Definition AC   Acromioclavicular joint ACDF  Anterior cervical diskectomy with fusion ACI   Autologous chondrocyte implantation ACL   Anterior cruciate ligament ADL   Activities of daily living AVN   Avascular necrosis AP    Anterior posterior, or Anteroposterior APB   Abductor pollicis brevis APL   Abductor pollicis longus ASD or ASAD Arthroscopic sub-acromial decompression ASIS   Anterior superior iliac spine ATL   Achilles tendon lengthening BKA   Below-knee amputation BR    Brachioradialis BTB   Bone tendon bone autograft CC    Chief complaint, or Costochondral CMC   Carpometacarpal CP   Chondromalacia patellae, or Cerebral palsy CRPS  Complex regional pain syndrome CS   Corticosteroid CSF  Cerebrospinal fluid C-spine  Cervical spine CT   Computed tomography CTR  Carpal tunnel release CTS  Carpal tunnel syndrome DDH  Developmental dysplasia of hip DIP  Distal interphalangeal DISH Diffuse idiopathic skeletal hyperostosis DR          Dorsal root DRUJ Distal radio-ulnar joint DVT Deep vein thrombosis Dx  Diagnosis DEXA Dual energy x-ray absorptiometry ECRB Extensor carpi radialis brevis ECRL Extensor carpi radialis longus ECU Extensor carpi ulnaris EDC Extensor digitorum communis EMG Electromyography EPL Extensor pollicis longus

EPO Erythropoietin Ex-Fix External fixation device FB  Foreign body FCR Flexor carpi radialis FCU Flexor carpi ulnaris FDP Flexor digitorum profundus FDS Flexor digitorum superficialis Fluoro Fluoroscopic guidance FPL Flexor pollicis longus Fx  Fracture HC  Hydrocodone HNP Herniated nucleus pulposus IA  Intra-articular ICS   Intercostal space I&D  Incision and drainage, or Irrigation and debridement IDET  Intradiscal electrothermal therapy IM   Intramuscular, or Intramedullary IP   Interphalangeal ITB   Iliotibial band ITT   Internal tibial torsion LCL  Lateral collateral ligament LR   Lateral release LS  Lumbosacral MCL Medial collateral ligament MCP Metacarpophalangeal MIS Minimally invasive surgery MMR Medial meniscal repair MMT Medial meniscal tear MRI Magnetic resonance imaging MTP Metatarsophalangeal NCCI National Correct Coding Initiative NCS Nerve conduction study NSAID Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug OA  Osteoarthritis OATS Osteochondral autograft transfer system OCD Osteochondritis dissecans  OM  Osteomyelitis ORIF Open reduction internal fixation OT  Occupational therapy PCL Posterior cruciate ligament PF  Patello-femoral PKR Partial knee replacement PIP  Proximal interphalangeal PLIF Posterior lumbar interbody fusion PT  Physical therapy, or Patient RA   Rheumatoid arthritis RCL  Radial collateral ligament RCR  Rotator cuff repair RCT  Rotator cuff tear RICE  Rest, ice, compression, elevation RLD  Ruptured lumbar disk RSD  Reflex sympathetic dystrophy RU   Radioulnar SAD  Subacromial decompression SB   Spina bifida SC   Sacrococcygeal SF   Synovial fluid, or Spinal fluid SI   Sacroiliac SLAC  Scapholunate advanced collapse SLAP  Superior labral anterior-posterior STSG  Split thickness skin graft SX   Surgery, or Symptoms  TAL  Tendoachilles lengthening THR  Total hip replacement TLIF  Transverse lumbar interbody fusion TMT  Tarsometatarsal TKR  Total knee replacement UKR  Unicondylar knee replacement VA   Videoarthroscopy