Coding for Arthroscopic Knee Surgery
Arthroscopy is a minimally invasive surgical procedure on a joint in which an examination and sometimes treatment of damage is performed using an arthroscope, an endoscope that is inserted into the joint through a small incision. Arthroscopic procedures can be performed durin…
Replacement of polyethylene liner of a total knee replacement
Total knee replacement is classified to code 81.54 and involves replacing the articular surfaces of the femoral condyles, tibial plateau, and patella. What is ICD 10 code for knee replacement? ICD-10: Z96. 651, Status (post), organ replacement, by artificial or mechanical device or prosthesis of, joint, knee-see presence of knee joint implant.
Pain in unspecified knee
33 - Arthroscopic surgical procedure converted to open procedure. Z53. 33 - Arthroscopic surgical procedure converted to open procedure is a topic covered in the ICD-10-CM.
Arthroscopic surgical procedure converted to open procedure Z53. 33 is a billable/specific ICD-10-CM code that can be used to indicate a diagnosis for reimbursement purposes. The 2022 edition of ICD-10-CM Z53. 33 became effective on October 1, 2021.
ICD-10: Z96. 651, Status (post), organ replacement, by artificial or mechanical device or prosthesis of, joint, knee-see presence of knee joint implant. ICD-10: R26.
Z96. 651 - Presence of right artificial knee joint. ICD-10-CM.
Knee arthroscopy is surgery that uses a tiny camera to look inside your knee. Small cuts are made to insert the camera and small surgical tools into your knee for the procedure. Knee arthroscopy is surgery that is done to check for problems, using a tiny camera to see inside your knee.
Report CPT code 29877 (Arthroscopy, knee, surgical; debridement/shaving of articular cartilage [chrondroplasty]) for arthroscopic debridement with presentation of knee pain only, or arthroscopic debridement without lavage for patients with severe osteoarthritis.
Knee replacement, also called knee arthroplasty or total knee replacement, is a surgical procedure to resurface a knee damaged by arthritis. Metal and plastic parts are used to cap the ends of the bones that form the knee joint, along with the kneecap.
Total Knee ArthroplastyCodeDescription27445ARTHROPLASTY, KNEE, HINGE PROSTHESIS (EG, WALLDIUS TYPE)27447ARTHROPLASTY, KNEE, CONDYLE AND PLATEAU; MEDIAL AND LATERAL COMPARTMENTS WITH OR WITHOUT PATELLA RESURFACING (TOTAL KNEE ARTHROPLASTY)27486REVISION OF TOTAL KNEE ARTHROPLASTY, WITH OR WITHOUT ALLOGRAFT; 1 COMPONENT1 more row
241A.
81 for Encounter for surgical aftercare following surgery on specified body systems is a medical classification as listed by WHO under the range - Factors influencing health status and contact with health services .
Encounter for other specified surgical aftercare Z48. 89 is a billable/specific ICD-10-CM code that can be used to indicate a diagnosis for reimbursement purposes. The 2022 edition of ICD-10-CM Z48. 89 became effective on October 1, 2021.
Arthroplasty is a surgical procedure to restore the function of a joint. A joint can be restored by resurfacing the bones. An artificial joint (called a prosthesis) may also be used.
Treatment can also occur through the arthroscope by creating additional small incisions and inserting instruments such as scissors, shavers, or lasers. Almost all arthoscopic procedures are done on an outpatient basis.
There are four knee ligaments: anterior cruciate, posterior cruciate, medial collateral, and lateral collateral. Current sprains and strains of the knee are classified to category 844. The fourth digit will classify the ligament involved. A torn, ruptured, or detached ligament is also included in category 844.
The fifth character identifies the approach. Arthroscopy would be considered percutaneous endoscopic, which is defined as entry, by puncture or minor incision, of instrumentation through the skin or mucous membrane and any other body layers necessary to reach and visualize the site of the procedure.
A fifth digit is required to identify the ligament involved. Tearing of knee cartilage or meniscus: The wedge-shaped pieces of cartilage in the knee joint are called meniscus and act as shock absorbers. They can tear in different ways and are classified by how they look and where the tear occurs.
According to Coding Clinic, surgical approaches (eg, scopes) are not coded if a more definitive procedure is performed. Therefore, if a procedure was done via a scope, assign a code for the procedure ...
0SJC4ZZ is a billable procedure code used to specify the performance of inspection of right knee joint, percutaneous endoscopic approach. The code is valid for the year 2021 for the submission of HIPAA-covered transactions.
releasing yearly updates. These 2021 ICD-10-PCS codes are to be used for discharges occurring from October 1, 2020 through September 30, 2021.
Cutting through the skin or mucous membrane and any other body layers necessary to expose the site of the procedure
Entry, by puncture or minor incision, of instrumentation through the skin or mucous membrane and any other body layers necessary to reach and visualize the site of the procedure
An important HCPCS code is G0289, Arthroscopy, knee, surgical, for removal of loose body, debridement/shaving of articular cartilage (chondroplasty) at the time of other surgical knee arthroscopy in a different compartment of the same knee. This code is used for Medicare to report the procedure in that description, when performed in a separate compartment of the knee during the same operative session. It is not appropriate to use code 29877 even with a modifier.
“From a CPT® coding perspective, if debridement or shaving of articular cartilage and meniscectomy are performed in the same compartment of the knee, then only code 29881, Arthroscopy, knee, surgical; with meniscectomy (medial or lateral, including any meniscal shaving), should be reported. However, if debridement or shaving of articular cartilage is performed in one compartment of the knee and a meniscectomy is performed in a different compartment of the knee, then codes 29877, Arthroscopy, knee, surgical; debridement/shaving of articular cartilage (chondroplasty), and 29881 should be reported.”
29880 Arthroscopy medial and lateral meniscectomy G0289 for the Arthroscopic removal of a loose body in a separate compartment 29880 is coded for the medial AND lateral meniscectomy Since the loose body removal was done in a separate compartment (patellofemoral), the G0289 is coded.
29888 – ACL Repair G0289 - Arthroscopy, knee, surgical, for removal of loose body, debridement/shaving of articular cartilage (chondroplasty) at the time of other surgical knee arthroscopy in a different compartment of the same knee
Slippery and flexible, hyaline (articular) cartilage within the knee joint allows, has less friction than two pieces of glass placed together. This allows the joint to move with minimal friction in a healthy knee. There are two primary types of cartilage in the knee:
29876 for the extensive synovectomy is the only code reported. G0289 for the loose body is NOT CODED because the synovectomy was done in the same compartment as the loose body and therefore it was not in a separate compartment and is not to be coded.
Diagnostic arthroscopies are used to examine and diagnose problems in the knee joint; surgical arthroscopies are used to treat diseased or damaged areas such as torn menisci, chondromalacia, or inflamed synovium.
Three compartments comprise the knee: medial, lateral, and patellofemoral. The medial compartment includes the medial femoral condyle, medial tibial plateau, and medial meniscus. The lateral compartment consists of the lateral femoral condyle, lateral tibial plateau, and lateral meniscus. And the patellofemoral compartment includes the patella, patellofemoral joint, intercondylar femoral notch, suprapatellar pouch, and the trochlea.
29881 Arthroscopy, knee, surgical with meniscectomy (medial OR lateral, including any meniscal shaving) including debridement/shaving of articular cartilage (chondroplasty), same or separate compartment (s), when performed. During a meniscectomy, the surgeon removes a piece of the torn meniscus or the entire meniscus.
Most surgeons treat meniscus tears with arthroscopic surgery, which involves inserting a thin, flexible fiber-optic device into a small incision in the knee. The surgeon then maneuvers tools through the arthroscope or additional incisions in the knee.
Medicare reinforces its definition of G0289 in Chapter IV of the NCCI guidelines: “HCPCS code G0289 shall not be reported for removal of a loose body or foreign body or debridement/shaving of articular cartilage from the same compartment as another knee arthroscopic procedure.”.
And the patellofemoral compartment includes the patella, patellofemoral joint, intercondylar femoral notch, suprapatellar pouch, and the trochlea. The meniscus is a c-shaped piece of cartilage between the tibia and femur, which absorbs shock, provides a cushion between the bones, and keeps the knee stable.
Although the National Correct Coding Initiative (NCCI) bundles 29877 Arthroscopy, knee, surgical debridement/shaving of articular cartilage (chondroplasty) and the meniscal repair codes, with a “0” modifier indicator, which typically means you cannot separately report the codes under any circumstance, Medicare allows providers to separately report chondroplasty with meniscal repairs if performed in a different compartment of the same knee. Medicare instructs coders to use HCPCS Level II code G0289 Arthroscopy, knee, surgical, for removal of loose body, foreign body, debridement/shaving of articular cartilage (chondroplasty) at the time of other surgical knee arthroscopy in a different compartment of the same knee. Do not separately report chondroplasty if another surgery is performed in the same compartment.