Wiki code help reattachment of ear.

[freespririt0806]

ear was placed in antibiotic solution , iced down and soaked, stump of ear was cleansed. There was a single postauricular artery that was cauterized. too small for reanastomosis. The remaining cartilage appeared to be what was just proximal to the antihelical fold and the edge was a stellate laceration. It was not trimmed and the irregularities used to line up the free fragment of ear. cartillage was brought together in an intertupted fashion..This being done the apex and caudal portions, individual vicryl sutures were used to align the margin and evert lightly. Sutures were used consecutively around the entire perimeter of amputation in order to allow egress of lymphatic fluid and venous blood. Alignment was good ice was place.

would this be a complex closure and cautery of artery?
thank you in advance for any help

 

[jackjones62]

Yes, it would be a complex closure, there are no codes for the re-attachment of an ear. The only thing I would suggest is that your surgeon needs to include in the operative report the size of the closure/re-attachment = total cm as the complex closures are based on length. As far as the cautery of the artery, bill it, why not, they had to address it.

Hope this helps!

Jennifer
Coding Analyst

 

[freespririt0806]

Yes, it would be a complex closure, there are no codes for the re-attachment of an ear. The only thing I would suggest is that your surgeon needs to include in the operative report the size of the closure/re-attachment = total cm as the complex closures are based on length. As far as the cautery of the artery, bill it, why not, they had to address it.

Hope this helps!

Jennifer
Coding Analyst

thank you for the help,