I have a patient that previously had a TKA with replacement of the femoral and tibial components, but not the patella. Now the patient has pain and degeneration of the patella, so my physician resurfaced the patella and added the patellar component. Nothing was done with the femoral/tibial components this time. I’m debating between 27486 and 27438. It is technically a revision to a TKA, but to a part of it that wasn’t previously replaced, so I’m not sure if we code it as the original patellar arthroplasty or a revision of TKA. The physician is calling it a revision of TKA. Thoughts?

Thanks!

Susan Reinier, CPC