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Orthopedic Coding Alert

READER QUESTION:

Carpal Boss

Published on Fri Nov 01, 2002

Question: Is there a code for excision of carpal boss or spurringo carpometacarpal joint? I thought 25130 (Excision or curettage of bone cyst or benign tumor of carpal bones) might be appropriate, but is there something that will work better? New Jersey Subscriber Answer: No, you should use 26230 (Partial excision [craterization, saucerization, or diaphysectomy] bone [e.g., osteomyelitis]; metacarpal) instead, because a carpometacarpal boss occurs at the base of the second and third metacarpals and thus constitutes a "partial" excision.  
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