Outpatient Facility Coding Alert

Question: Are lysis of penile adhesions and repair of penile skin bridge the same procedure or are they considered two different procedures? What should I report when the surgeon performs both procedures during the same operative session?

Maryland Subscriber

Answer: You should consider this one procedure from a coding standpoint, even though the physician completed two types of services. Report 54162 (Lysis or excision of penile post-circumcision adhesions) alone for the treatment of the penile adhesions.

Use diagnostic ICD-9 code 709.2 (Scar conditions and fibrosis of skin). After Oct. 1, 2014 when ICD-10 takes effect, you’ll have a more specific diagnostic code to use: N47.5 (Adhesion of prepuce and glans penis).