Podiatry Coding & Billing Alert

Question: Our podiatrist performed a number of procedures during the same operative session: open reduction, internal fixation, and external fixator application to a tibial plateau fracture; allograft application; and external fixator application to the tibial plafond fracture. What CPTs apply for these procedures?

Answer: You might be looking at several procedures, but you can actually streamline your report to two codes. Your primary procedure should list 27535 (Open treatment of tibial fracture, proximal [plateau]; unicondylar, includes internal fixation, when performed) for the open reduction and fixation.

Then you should report 20692 (Application of a multiplane [pins or wires in more than 1 plane], unilateral, external fixation system [e.g., Ilizarov, Monticelli type]) for the external fixator stabilizing the tibial plafond fracture.

FYI: CPT guidelines don't provide a way for you to separately report the allograft. Although your surgeon completed the allograft during the surgery, you won't report a separate code.