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Orthopedic Coding Alert

Reader Question:

Look to 27385-27386 for Quad Tendon Repair

Published on Fri May 14, 2004

Reviewed on May 20, 2015 Question: How should we report a quadriceps tendon repair? Should we use the infrapatellar tendon repair code (27380)?  Alabama Subscriber  Answer: No. You should report either 27385 (Suture of quadriceps or hamstring muscle rupture; primary) or 27386 (... secondary reconstruction, including fascial or tendon graft) depending on whether the surgeon performed a primary or secondary repair.  You should only report 27380 (Suture of infrapatellar tendon; primary) if the orthopedist repaired the infrapatellar tendon. Not only is this correct coding, but it can increase your reimbursement because the quadriceps repair codes (27385 and 27386) reimburse slightly higher than 27380.    
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