Eli's Rehab Report

Question: How should I code injection of trochanteric bursa and sacral crest? My physician wants to use a trigger point code, but I am thinking differently.


New Mexico Subscriber

Answer: The CPT code for the trochanteric bursa injection is 20610 (Arthrocentesis, aspiration and/or injection; major joint or bursa [e.g., shoulder, hip, knee joint, subacromial bursa]). 

You may want to check with the provider, however, before deciding what code to choose for the sacral crest injection. The reason is that the sacrum has many ligament and tendon attachments, and he could be injecting those structures rather than a muscle at the sacral crest.

The codes you should consider, however, are 20550 (Injection[s]; single tendon sheath, or ligament, aponeurosis [e.g., plantar "fascia"]) or 20551 (... single tendon origin/insertion).