Reader Question:
Steroid Injection
Published on Fri Jun 01, 2001
Question: How do I code for a fluoroscopically guided, contrast-controlled right L4 transforaminal epidural steroid injection and an aspiration right of the L3-4 facet joint?
Rhode Island Subscriber
Answer: For the epidural portion of the procedure, use codes 64483 (injection, anesthetic agent and/or steroid, transforaminal epidural; lumbar or sacral, single level) and 76005-26 (fluoroscopic guidance and localization of needle or catheter tip for spine or paraspinous diagnostic or therapeutic injection procedures including neurolytic agent destruction, -professional component).
For the facet joint aspiration, you would use the same aspiration codes as for any joint in the body, 20600-20610. Because a spinal vertebrae is an intermediate joint, use code 20605 (arthrocentesis, aspiration and/or injection).
