“We would also do a total if the patient has a complication such as deformity caused by long-term arthritis, or if they have severe ligament instability. These can’t be corrected with a partial replacement.” Most patients who need knee replacement surgery need total joint replacement.
What are the risks?
Most people who have total knee replacement surgery experience a dramatic reduction of knee pain and a significant improvement in the ability to perform common activities of daily living. But total knee replacement will not allow you to do more than you could before you developed arthritis.
Types of knee replacement approaches
ICD-10: Z96. 651, Status (post), organ replacement, by artificial or mechanical device or prosthesis of, joint, knee-see presence of knee joint implant.
CMS also identified CPT code 27446 Arthroplasty, knee, condyle and plateau; medial OR lateral compartment as a Harvard-valued service with Annual Allowed Charges Greater than $10 million.
In a total knee replacement, the surgeon removes the entire joint and replaces it with an artificial joint. In a partial knee replacement, either the inside (medial) or outside (lateral) compartments of the knee joint are removed and replaced with artificial parts.
Total knee replacement is classified to code 81.54 and involves replacing the articular surfaces of the femoral condyles, tibial plateau, and patella.
Current Procedural Terminology (CPT) codes For this study, CPT 27130 was used to identify primary THA, while CPT 27132 was used to identify conversion THA.
For a TKA revision (27486 Revision of total knee arthroplasty, with or without allograft; 1 component and 27487 Revision of total knee arthroplasty, with or without allograft; femoral and entire tibial component), watch for key words such as “removal and replacement of polyetheline liner” or “poly exchange,” and ...
The surgery has a great track record for relieving pain and improving function. But it's a major operation with a relatively long rehabilitation period. Some people with advanced knee osteoarthritis can get similar results with a faster recovery and other benefits by getting a partial knee replacement.
Today, the procedure is being done on younger patients who have pain and other symptoms in one part of the knee. Because a partial knee replacement is less surgery, it has often been reported to have an easier, quicker, more complete recovery and greater satisfaction than a full knee replacement.
While it's possible that you'd need a total knee replacement after having a partial, it is still unlikely. Modern implants for both partial and total knees typically last for 15-20 years. If you outlast a total knee replacement and have trouble years down the road, you may need a revision surgery.
For example, the patient had a total knee arthroplasty 3 years ago. The surgeon removes the femoral component and replaces it with a new component. The surgeon reports CPT code 27486 (revision of total knee arthroplasty, with or without allograft; 1 component).
CPT® Code 27447 in section: Arthroplasty, knee, condyle and plateau.
27446. Arthroplasty, knee, condyle and plateau; medial or lateral compartment. Removal.