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Podiatry Coding & Billing Alert

Reader Questions:

Be Ready To Tell Incision From Excision When Coding Fasciotomy

Published on Sat Jan 01, 2011

Question: I received an op note from my podiatrist, supposedly for a plantar fasciectomy for plantar fasciitis. The op note read, "The plantar fascia was identified, and the medial band of the plantar fascia was transected using a #15 surgical blade down through but not into the underlying muscle belly. The tension in the medial longitudinal arch then seemed to relax. The area was flushed, and the skin was closed with 3-0 prolenehorizontal mattress sutures." Nothing was marked as a discarded specimen, according to the nurse's intraoperative report, so I don't think the procedure involves an "excision." How should I report it?Answer: The op note describes an incision, so 28008 (Fasciotomy, foot and/or toe) is the appropriate code. When a physician performs an excision, he would cut body tissue and remove a section of it as well. On the other hand, an incision is only a cut into the body [...]
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