Orthopedic Coding Alert
Document Pathology for Tendon Ruptures
Question: Our surgeon repaired a bimalleolar fracture and the posterior tibial tendon. The tendon was completely ruptured. Can this tendon repair be billed with the fracture repair? Please suggest a code for the tendon repair.
Answer: You first need to check documentation for the pathology of the tendon rupture. You may report the pathology to imply that the tendon rupture was distinct from the fracture. From the description shared, the best choice seems to be code 27658 (Repair, flexor tendon, leg; primary, without graft, each tendon). Note that the posterior tibial tendon is a flexor tendon. You report 27814 (Open treatment of bimalleolar ankle fracture [e.g., lateral and medial malleoli, or lateral and posterior malleoli, or medial and posterior malleoli], includes internal fixation, when performed) for the ORIF of the bimalleolar ankle fracture.
Alabama Subscriber
Orthopedic Coding Alert
- Coding Strategy:
Master Hand Mass Excisions With These Tips
Confirm location, incision, and synovectomy, if any. Reporting nodular masses in the hand can be [...] - Coding Tips:
Refine Your Post-Op Infection Coding With These 3 Examples
Hint: Global period and modifiers help you avoid the guesswork. You could be sabotaging your [...] - ICD-10 Update:
Closed or Open Guides Your Patellar Fracture Reporting
Look at type of open fracture, ignore morphology and laterality. Don’t let elaborate ICD-10 code [...] - Determine Type Of Open Patellar Fractures
Since the ICD-10 codes for open fracture depend upon the type of fracture, it is [...] - You Be the Coder:
Document Pathology for Tendon Ruptures
Question: Our surgeon repaired a bimalleolar fracture and the posterior tibial tendon. The tendon was [...] - Reader Question:
Best Choice for Rheumatoid Nodule Excision is 28043
Question: How do we claim for excision of rheumatoid nodule in the metatarsal bone. The [...] - Reader Question:
26540 Is Specific To Hand Collateral Ligament Repair
Question: In a patient diagnosed with left thumb chronic MCP radial collateral ligament sprain, our [...] - Reader Question:
Confirm Debridement and Decompression in Shoulder Arthroscopy
Question: In a patient diagnosed with posterior labral tear, subacromial bursitis with impingement type lesion, [...] - Reader Question:
You Have Common Code for Dorsal/Volar Wrist Ganglion Excision
Question: In a patient who was diagnosed with right wrist dorsal ganglion and underlying scapholunate [...] - Reader Question:
Determine Extent in Bone Debridement
Question: A post ankle arthroplasty patient presented with hindfoot pain and impingement and our surgeon [...] - Reader Question:
Count On All Procedures for Loose Body Removal in Knee
Question: In a patient diagnosed with multiple loose bodies in the knee, lateral meniscus tear, [...] - Reader Question:
Report 29916 For Labral Repair
Question: The diagnosis reported by our surgeon includes the following: 1. Right hip pincer-type femoral [...]
