EPL tendon extra-retinacular transposition wrist surgery Coding help

jhaleycoder

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Hi- Can anyone help me with coding this surgery. I am leaning towards CPT 25310, 25270

The patient identification, operative site, and operative procedure were verified with the patient preoperatively in the holding area and again at the safety pause in the operating room. The patient was transferred to the operating room in a supine position on a stretcher. The right upper extremity was extended onto an arm table and a well-padded upper arm tourniquet was placed. The anesthesia team administered some sedation as well as a Bier block to the right upper extremity. The operative extremity was then prepped and draped using the standard sterile technique with Betadine. A proposed incision line was marked over the dorsal aspect of the wrist. This was an oblique incision centered over Lister's tubercle along the course of the EPL tendon measuring approximately 4 cm in length. A timeout was performed and all were in agreement. A #15 blade was used to incise the skin. Blunt dissection was used to pass down through the subcutaneous tissues. Superficial neurovascular structures were identified and protected. Once the third dorsal compartment sheath was identified adjacent to Lister's tubercle, the thumb was moved passively in flexion and extension to verify the correct site. The tendon sheath was opened using a deep #15 blade. Dissecting scissors were used to release the tendon sheath proximally to the level of the mid forearm and distally to the level of the thumb CMC joint. The tendon was then inspected. There was 20% attritional rupture of the EPL tendon with significant fraying. This was debrided with forceps and scissors until the surface of the tendon was smooth. The EPL tendon was thickened consistent with chronic tendinosis. The EPL tendon was then transposed extra-retinacularly. The wound was copiously irrigated. There was noted to be no kinking or binding of the EPL tendon in its newly transposed position. The EPL tendon sheath was closed with interrupted 4-0 Vicryl sutures followed by a running locking 4-0 Vicryl suture to ensure that the EPL tendon would remain transposed outside of the third dorsal compartment sheath. The subcutaneous skin layers were closed with 4-0 Vicryl sutures and the skin was closed with a running 4-0 Stratafix suture. A dry sterile bulky nonadherent dressing was placed over the incision and secured in place with an Ace wrap. The tourniquet was released with immediate return of blood flow to the fingertips. The procedures were uncomplicated. The counts were correct. The patient tolerated the procedures well and was transferred to the PACU in stable condition.
 
This would generally be coded as a single compartment release/tenosynovectomy, 25118. You could easily get away with 25295 - tenolysis of single extensor.
The tendon transposition is minimal work and incidental to the release. It is performed as a routine part of most dorsal wrist exposures.
A tendon transfer was not performed - that involves cutting a donor tendon, moving it, and reattaching it to a recipient tendon with multiple sutures.
The tendon was debrided, not repaired.
N.
 
This would generally be coded as a single compartment release/tenosynovectomy, 25118. You could easily get away with 25295 - tenolysis of single extensor.
The tendon transposition is minimal work and incidental to the release. It is performed as a routine part of most dorsal wrist exposures.
A tendon transfer was not performed - that involves cutting a donor tendon, moving it, and reattaching it to a recipient tendon with multiple sutures.
The tendon was debrided, not repaired.
N.
I am new to ortho and still learning, so be gentle; I looked at 26478 – Tenolysis, extensor tendon, wrist to forearm
  • EPL tendon sheath was released from mid forearm to thumb CMC
  • Fraying debrided, tendon inspected
  • No transfer or repair – just release, inspection, debridement, and transposition
  • Transposition extra-retinacular repositioning, not a transfer to a new insertion?
 
This would generally be coded as a single compartment release/tenosynovectomy, 25118. You could easily get away with 25295 - tenolysis of single extensor.
The tendon transposition is minimal work and incidental to the release. It is performed as a routine part of most dorsal wrist exposures.
A tendon transfer was not performed - that involves cutting a donor tendon, moving it, and reattaching it to a recipient tendon with multiple sutures.
The tendon was debrided, not repaired.
N.

Thank you so much! This info is extremely helpful. :)
 
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