Orthopedic Coding Alert

Question: Our surgeon did a patellar resurfacing in an outpatient facility. Is it correct to report this as 27446 (Arthroplasty, knee, condyle and plateau; medial OR lateral compartment) or do we bill this as unlisted? The patient had a total knee replacement over a year ago.

Ohio Subscriber

Answer: Patellar resurfacing is actually patelloplasty. The term 'resurfacing' implies that some type of implant was used. You report 27438 (Arthroplasty, patella; with prosthesis) for this procedure. Your surgeon will virtually always adopt an open approach to patelloplasty as this procedure involves removal of a portion of the patient's knee cap.