Reader Question:
Knee Procedures
Published on Sat Dec 01, 2001
Question: How should I code a knee arthroscopy with chondroplasty and partial lateral meniscectomy?
Michigan Subscriber
Answer: Despite doing two different procedures as part of one arthroscopic surgery, there is only one code to report 29881 (arthroscopy, knee, surgical; with meniscectomy [medial OR lateral, including any meniscal shaving]). According to AAOS guidelines, if the meniscectomy and chondroplasty are both in the same compartment, only the code for the arthroscopic meniscectomy should be reported. However, if the meniscectomy and chondroplasty involve separate compartments of the knee (e.g., medial meniscectomy with lateral chondroplasty), 29877 (arthroscopy, knee, surgical; debridement/shaving of articular cartilage [chondroplasty]) with modifier -59 (distinct procedural service) may be reported in addition to 29881.
