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Orthopedic Coding Alert

READER QUESTIONS:

Stay With One Knee Compartment Code

Published on Sat Feb 27, 2010

Question: The surgeon excised a flap tear and completed a partial synovectomy in the medial compartment. He also performed partial synovectomy, chondroplasty, and excision of meniscus tear in the lateral compartment. He noted several codes but I don't think we can report everything. What's the correct choice?New Jersey SubscriberAnswer: You're correct -- your surgeon is trying to submit too many codes when you only need 29880 (Arthroscopy, knee, surgical; with meniscectomy [medial AND lateral, including any meniscal shaving).Explanation: The synovectomies in the medial and lateral compartments and the chondroplasty in the lateral compartment are included with the meniscectomies.Therefore, codes such as 29875 (... synovectomy, limited [e.g., plica or shelf resection] [separate procedure]) and 29887 (... drilling for intact osteochondritis dissecans lesion) are unnecessary.Include the diagnoses for medial and lateral meniscus tears. For the medial meniscus, choose from:• 717.0 -- Internal derangement of knee; old bucket handle tear or medial meniscus• 717.1 -- ... [...]
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