Orthopedic Coding Alert

Reader Question:

Append -22 for TKA Conversion

Question: How should we report conversion of a total knee arthroplasty (TKA) for a patient who underwent a previous high tibial osteotomy?

Kansas Subscriber

Answer: CPT does not include any codes for TKA conversion, so your best bet is to submit 27447 (Arthro-plasty, knee, condyle and plateau; medial AND lateral compartments with or without patella resurfacing [total knee arthroplasty]) with modifier -22 (Unusual procedural services) appended. Include a letter with your claim explaining how your procedure differed from a standard TKA and why.

 

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