I have only been doing spinal coding for about 6 months and I have come across something that has me completely confused. The surgeon states he did posterior segmental instrumentation at L3-L4. To me that looks like two vertebral segments. The posterior segmental instrumentation codes begin with 3 vertebral segments. Can someone give me an answer on how this should be coded?:confused?-
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Wiki Posterior spinal instrumentation
- Thread starter DMW610
- Start date
I have only been doing spinal coding for about 6 months and I have come across something that has me completely confused. The surgeon states he did posterior segmental instrumentation at L3-L4. To me that looks like two vertebral segments. The posterior segmental instrumentation codes begin with 3 vertebral segments. Can someone give me an answer on how this should be coded?:confused?OCD_coder
True Blue
Posterior application:
22840 = 1 interspace (2 segements).
22842 = 3 - 6 vertebral segments.
22840 = 1 interspace (2 segements).
22842 = 3 - 6 vertebral segments.
Thanks for the help. I have one question and I think the verbage is what has me confused. 20840 states that this is "non-segmental" and the surgeon states that it was "segmental". I'm thinking that this is just the description that he uses. I've checked the coders desk reference and what he is describing seems to be the 20840.