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Orthopedic Coding Alert

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Be Confident For Metacarpophalangeal Fixation

Published on Mon Sep 12, 2011

Question:  The surgeon did a removal of trapezium, partial resection of trapezoid, and fixation of 1st and 2nd MCP (Thumb and index finger) with a Tightrope™ suture anchor.The operative note follows:"A T-type of incision was made at the base of the 1st right metacarpal. After dissection of the skin and subcutaneous tissue, the base of the 1st metacarpal was exposed, and the extensor pollicis longus was identified and then transected. About half to an inch of the muscle was resected and the proximal end was let to fly free. The pin guide after that was used for placement of the tightrope from the radial side of the 1st metacarpal to the 2nd metacarpal under the C-arm magnification. After good placement of the guidewire was achieved, the 2.0 size drill was used to make the hole over the guidewire, and a special designed rubber hard tube was placed through over the [...]
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