Podiatry Coding & Billing Alert

Question: To treat the patient’s degenerative arthritis, the podiatrist fused the subtalar joint of his foot. Which CPT^® code should I report for this procedure?

Alaska Subscriber

Answer: You should report 28725 (Arthrodesis; subtalar).

In a 28725 procedure, after the podiatrist preps and anesthetizes the patient, he makes a curved incision around the patient’s calcaneus to the level of the subtalar joint. He then removes the lateral talar process for better exposure. The podiatrist incises the talocalcaneal joint capsule to further view the subtalar articulation. He excises the patient’s articular cartilage and subchondral bone, including the anterior, middle, and posterior facets. The podiatrist uses various internal fixation devices like K wires and screws for this procedure.