Texas Subscriber
Answer: Although CPT has a code in the arthroscopy category that describes surgery to address an infection of the knee joint, no such code exists for the shoulder. In this case, CPT directs us to report an unlisted-procedure code, which is 29909. You need to append modifier -78 (return to the operating room for a related procedure during the postoperative period). For the incision, irrigation and debridement of the deltoid region, report 10180 (incision and drainage, complex, postoperative wound infection) with modifiers -78 and -51 (multiple procedures).