Question: How should I code hardware injections in the lumbar spine x3 screws?
New Hampshire Subscriber
Answer: You may want to review using one of the following unlisted-procedure codes: 64999 (Unlisted procedure, nervous system), 21899 (Unlisted procedure, neck or thorax), or 22899 (Unlisted procedure, spine).
Usually the hardware injections are done at the surgeon's request to determine if the "retained" hardware (screws) is the source of the patient's post-fusion continued pain. The pain physician will inject a small amount of anesthetic at each screw and may have the patient go through range of motion to see if the med takes away the pain.
Typically, the surgeons want to make sure that the hardware is the source before they go in for a major procedure to remove it all - only to find out it didn't relieve the patient's pain.