Orthopedic Coding Alert

Knee surgeons starting to use pain pumps? Check question 3 As many as 300,000 Americans tear or rupture an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) each year. But the fact that arthroscopic ACL surgery is common doesn't mean coding the procedure is straightforward. Tackle some of the variations that arise in ACL procedures with these five expert tips. Tip 1: Think 29999 for Thermal Shrinkage Question: How should I report arthroscopic ACL thermal shrinkage? Answer: Some surgeons use thermal treatments to tighten a stretched ACL. CPT does not offer a particular code for thermal shrinkage, so if the procedure is performed entirely with thermal shrinkage you should use 29999 (Unlisted procedure, arthroscopy), says Annette Grady, CPC-Ortho, CPC-H, CPC-I, CPC-P, CCS-P, PCS, FCS, senior orthopedic compliance auditor with The Coding Network and coding consultant. The medical community has noted that thermal shrinkage isn't always successful, so you-re unlikely to see a dedicated code [...]