Urology Coding Alert

Question: Can we report 54640 for retractile testis? The patient in a normal state has a descended testicle; however, sometimes it will dislocate into his inguinal canal.

AAPC Forum Subscriber

Answer: You should report 54640 (Orchiopexy, inguinal or scrotal approach) for the usually performed “transcrotal” orchiopexy for retractile testicles.

Coding tip: You should report 54640 with modifier 50 (Bilateral procedure).

Don’t miss: If you needed to report fixation (orchiopexy) of an intra-abdominal testicle via an open abdominal approach, you should report 54650 (Orchiopexy, abdominal approach, for intra-abdominal testis (eg, Fowler-Stephens)) instead. Also, if you needed to report an orchiopexy of an intra-abdominal testis using a laparoscopic approach, you should report 54692 (Laparoscopy, surgical; orchiopexy for intra-abdominal testis).