Otolaryngology Coding Alert

Answer: Type I medialization thyroplasty is a surgical procedure normally performed under local anesthesia in which a small incision is made in the skin near the larynx and a small piece of thyroid cartilage (not to be confused with the thyroid gland) is removed. A small block usually made of silicone or hydroxylapatite is secured in the cartilage. This block acts as a shim that pushes the vocal fold medially helping to improve vocal-fold closure.
 
The procedure is also referred to as medialization laryngoplasty. Although 31588 (laryngoplasty not otherwise specified [e.g. for burns reconstruction after partial laryngectomy) also describes a laryngoplasty the two procedures are not identical; therefore 31588 should not be used to report medialization thyroplasty. Instead use unlisted-procedure code 31599 (unlisted procedure larynx) to report the procedure.