You Be the Coder:
Report the Correct Code for Synovectomy
Published on Mon May 09, 2011
Question: Can you help me with the codes for the following procedure? One of our patients, an 80-year-old male who underwent a unicompartmental arthroplasty, was having some anterior medial knee pain about 50 percent of the time going from a seated to standing position with a snapping sensation. Having failed the conservative therapy of injections and anti-inflammatories, the surgeon planned an elective surgical intervention. The operative note read 'A midline incision utilizing previous scar was performed and taken down to the fascia. The subcutaneous level was widened. A median parapatellar arthrotomy was performed measuring approximately 2 inches. The medial femoral condyle was visualized showing prominence of the femoral component over the anterior superior medial aspect of the implant. A synovectomy was performed over the eschar on the intra-articular portion of the wound and the femoral component was modified utilizing the diamond tip wheel dresser and smoothed with a bur. It [...]