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Orthopedic Coding Alert

READER QUESTIONS:

VMO Should Lead You to 27422

Published on Mon Feb 06, 2006

Question: Our surgeon performed a procedure and documented medial retinacular reefing with VMO advancement. What is the VMO, and how should I code this procedure?


Missouri Subscriber


Answer: The -VMO- refers to the vastus medialis obliquus. This still may sound foreign to you, but the site is better known as the medial quadriceps muscle at the knee. The surgeon most likely performed the procedure to treat patellar subluxation.

Ask the surgeon if 27422 (Reconstruction of dislocating patella; with extensor realignment and/or muscle advancement or release [e.g., Campbell, Goldwaite type procedure]) appropriately matches the service that she performed.
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