nyyankees
True Blue
Has anyone heard of a spinal surgery for "growing rod"? One of my Dr's need a CPT code for it and I'm not all that familiar with. Any assistance would be appreciated. 
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Wiki Growing Rod
- Thread starter nyyankees
- Start date
FTessaBartels
Guest
Original surgery or expanding?
Our pediatric ortho spine coder is out on vacation this week ... I can get more info next week.
BUT ...
If you are talking about the original fusion w/ instrumentation I think you would use the appropriate segmental instrumentation code, depending on posterior/anterior and number of vertebral segments.
If you are talking about removal of the hardware, that is 22852 or 22855 (depending on if it's posterior or anterior).
If you are talking about the adjustment to allow the rod (and the patient) to "grow" ... I think this is the unlisted code 22899, but I'm not 100% certain.
Also ... if the surgeon is really talking about VEPTR (Vertical Expandable Prosthetic Titantium Rib) which is an expandable rod that will "grow" with the child ... those are a completely different set of codes.
If you don't get a more definitive answer by next week, I'll ask Nancy, our pediatric spine surgery coding guru.
Hope that helps.
F Tessa Bartels, CPC, CEMC
Our pediatric ortho spine coder is out on vacation this week ... I can get more info next week.
BUT ...
If you are talking about the original fusion w/ instrumentation I think you would use the appropriate segmental instrumentation code, depending on posterior/anterior and number of vertebral segments.
If you are talking about removal of the hardware, that is 22852 or 22855 (depending on if it's posterior or anterior).
If you are talking about the adjustment to allow the rod (and the patient) to "grow" ... I think this is the unlisted code 22899, but I'm not 100% certain.
Also ... if the surgeon is really talking about VEPTR (Vertical Expandable Prosthetic Titantium Rib) which is an expandable rod that will "grow" with the child ... those are a completely different set of codes.
If you don't get a more definitive answer by next week, I'll ask Nancy, our pediatric spine surgery coding guru.
Hope that helps.
F Tessa Bartels, CPC, CEMC
Last edited:
nyyankees
True Blue
Tessa-VEPTR was the first thing I thought - a surgery he does. But I will question as to exctly what they're doing. Thanks.
FTessaBartels
Guest
Nancy confirms
Our pediatric spine coder is back and she confirms what I previously posted.
For the expansion of the growth rod she uses 22899 and titles it "Expansion of spinal growth rod" She uses V54.02 for Diagnosis.
Hope that helps.
F Tessa Bartels, CPC, CEMC
Our pediatric spine coder is back and she confirms what I previously posted.
For the expansion of the growth rod she uses 22899 and titles it "Expansion of spinal growth rod" She uses V54.02 for Diagnosis.
Hope that helps.
F Tessa Bartels, CPC, CEMC
nyyankees
True Blue
Thank you...greatly appreciated.
