READER QUESTION ~ Consider Treatment Type for Cubital Tunnel Syndrome
Published on Thu Mar 01, 2007
Question: Our surgeon recently treated cubital tunnel syndrome. How should we code the diagnosis and procedure?
Massachusetts Subscriber Answer: Cubital tunnel syndrome (354.2) results from a combination of local pressure and stretching of the ulnar nerve at the elbow as it passes behind the medial epicondyle. Because you don't specify which treatment the surgeon provided, it's hard to select the right code.
If the physician diagnosed the condition at the visit, he may have performed a nerve conduction study (95900-95904). If he splinted the arm, you should report the appropriate splinting code (such as 29105). If he performed a cubital tunnel release, you should report 64718 (Neuroplasty and/or transposition; ulnar nerve at elbow). Reader Questions were reviewed by Heidi Stout, CPC, CCS-P, director of orthopedic coding services at The Coding Network LLC; and Bill Mallon, MD, orthopedic surgeon and medical director at Triangle Orthopaedic Associates in Durham, N.C.
