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Pain coding – Right lateral epicondyle injection with ultrasound guidance

HELP!
This is the procedure:
Procedure: Right elbow extensor tendon ultrasound guided corticosteroid injection.
Consent: Written consent was given after the risks, benefits, and alternatives of the procedure were explained and patient agreed to proceed with the injection. Indication for ultrasound guidance procedure includes avoidance of further ulnar nerve damage, obesity.
Description of Procedure: Right elbow extensor tendon injection: With the arm pronated, the proximal forearm close to the lateral epicondyle was prepped in standard sterile fashion and appropriate sterile cover and gel were used for ultrasound procedure. Using a Sonosite M-Turbo 15-6MHz linear array probe scanned both in long and short axis and injected in short axis visualizing elbow extensor tendon clearly. Procedure note: Written consent was given after the risks and benefits of the procedure were explained and pt agreed to proceed with the injection. The pt remained seated for the procedure with the left fully relaxed. After standard sterile preparation with Chloraprep. The extensor forearm was then injected utilizing the "peppering" technique with redirection of the needle several times with 1cc of 1%lidocaine without epinephrine and 40mg kenalog (NDC # 0003-0293-05) with intermittent negative withdrawal of heme. The needle was withdrawn. The pt tolerated the procedure well and there were no complications. There was immediate relief of symptoms. A sterile bandage was applied. Pt was given instructions to avoid more than 5 lbs lifting or pulling with right hand for 2 weeks. may ice today only..

Should this be billed as a trigger point? My doctor is wanting it billed as a 24357.
Any guidance will be appreciated. Thanks in advance.

Medical Billing and Coding Forum

Oblique Lateral Interbody Fusion (OLIF)

I wanted to get some advise on how to code this OLIF surgery.

PART ONE PROCEDURE PERFORMED:
1. Placement of Pivox PEEK cage (large) 12 mm tall, 16 deg at L5-S1 packed with Bio4 allogenic bone graft.
2. Placement on a large Medtronic Pivox titanium plate fixed with 25.0 mm and 25.0 mm Screws through plate over S1 and L5 bodies anteriorly
3. Placement of Pivox PEEK cage 8 mm tall x 55 mm wide, 6 deg into L34 packed with Bio4 allogenic bone graft.
4. Placement of Clydesdale PEEK cage 10 mm tall x 50 mm wide, 6 deg into L45 packed with Bio4 allogenic bone graft.
4. Total discectomy done anterior/obliquely at L3-L4, L4-L5 and L5-S1.

PART TWO PROCEDURE PERFORMED:
1. Posterolateral fusion performed, L3-4, L4-L5 and L5-S1 with placement of Bio4 allogenic bone graft at L3-L4, L4-L5 and L5-S1 facet joint complex.
2. Placement of Medtronic; Voyager system pedicle screws at the bilateral L3, L4 vertebral bodies of size 6.5 x 50 mm and placement of pedicle screws at the bilateral
S1 verterbal body of size 6.5 x 45 mm.
3. Attachment of 100 mm and 100 mm cobalt chrome rods on the left and right saddles of those pedicle screws, respectively.
4. Placement of temporary navigation reference frame in the left lateral iliac crest.
5. Intraoperative scan for O-arm navigation.
6. Intraoperative neuromonitoring

INDICATIONS:
XXXX is a XX y.o. male who I have been following in the office, who had had complaints of leg pain as well as back pain. he has tried nonoperative treatment including physical therapy
as well as a history of injections. Unfortunately, his relief of symptoms was not sustained with these conservative measures. As a result, imaging studies were reviewed. These showed
significant spondylosis at and degenerative disc disease at L3-L4, L4-L5 and L5-S1 with neuroforaminal stenosis at at each. he was given the option of nonoperative care and we discussed the implications
of a fusion. It was reiterated as well, that discogenic pain is difficult to diagnose. As a result of his condition, I gave him the opportunity to proceed with operative treatment of this condition. In no
uncertain terms have I indicated to the patient that this procedure would cure him of his symptoms. He signed a consent to proceed with surgery.

DETAILS OF PROCEDURE:
After informed consent was obtained, the patient was taken back to the operating room. he was placed under general endotracheal anesthesia. he was then placed in the left lateral decubitus
position with the left side up. The patient was then appropriately secured with tape. All bony prominences were well padded. A time-out was then facilitated in order to ensure this was the
correct patient, and that he was in the correct position, and the correct procedure was to be done. Then, his abdominopelvic region as well as his lumbosacral region were prepped and draped in
the usual sterile fashion. I and my assistant were gowned and gloved in the usual sterile fashion.

I began by initially placing a navigation reference frame in the left lateral and superior iliac crest. An intraoperative scan was then performed utilizing O-arm navigation system. After this scan was
performed, this allowed me and my co-surgeon to localize where the initial oblique incision was to be performed for an interbody fusions. Co-Surgeon, Dr. XXX, performed the oblique approach at L5-S1 and also exposed L4-L5 and L3-L4. He made a 6.5 cm incision with the use of 15-blade knife. I carried this incision through the various muscle plane while splitting them in an atraumatic fashion. We dissected in line through the abdominal muscles, and then identified the peritoneum and went through a retroperitoneal space. We identified and could see the lateral aspect of the lumbar disk spaces. The psoas muscle was lateral and was well protected at L3-L4, L4-L5, but at L5-S1 we approached between the bifurcation of the major vessels. After I identified this appropriate trajectory to the L5-S1 disk space and pinned and placed retractors at this level in order to protect the surrounding tissue, as standard discectomy was performed.

In the posterior space, I made an incision in line with the L3-L4, L4-L5 and L5-S1 lamina and facet joint complex. I sequentially dilated to an 18 mm Medtronic METRx tube system and, utilizing loupe
magnification, identified the lamina as well as the facet joint complex. I introduced a total of about 1.5 cc of Bio4 allogenic bone graft in total at both levels in order to attempt a posterolateral
fusion on this left side. With the posterolateral fusion having been completed, I then turned my attention to placement of the pedicle screws.

I made small stab incisions through the skin and the fascia and dilated to an appropriate size tube, and then introduced a 5.5 mm tap in and through the pedicle and into the vertebral body bilaterally
at L3, L4 and S1. Having completed the tapping for the screw, I then introduced the Medtronic 6.5 x 50 mm Voyager screws into bilaterally L4, L3 and 6.5 x 45 mm screws screws into bilaterally at the
S1 vertebral bodies. With those screws appropriately seated, I then turned my attention back to the anterior interbody approach.

We made an annulotomy through the disk space at L3-L4, L4-L5 and L5-S1. I then completed my diskectomy at those levels by removing the disk material in its entirety at each level. We then tried various size trial implants and settled on the placement of the following at each level.

1. Placement of Pivox PEEK cage (large) 12 mm tall, 16 deg at L5-S1 packed with Bio4 allogenic bone graft.
2. Placement on a large Medtronic Pivox titanium plate fixed with 25.0 mm and 25.0 mm Screws through plate over S1 and L5 bodies anteriorly
3. Placement of Pivox PEEK cage 8 mm tall x 55 mm wide, 6 deg into L34 packed with Bio4 allogenic bone graft.
4. Placement of Clydesdale PEEK cage 10 mm tall x 50 mm wide, 6 deg into L45 packed with Bio4 allogenic bone graft.

As each cage was deployed, this was done with the use of loupe magnification. With the cage in place, a little bit of Floseal was used to control any and all bleeding as well as a Surgicel. I removed all the
retractors. Prior to final closure, a final intraoperative o-arm scan was done confirming correct placement of all hardware. We determined that a 100 mm cobalt chrome rod and a 100 mm rod would be appropriately seated into the saddles of the pedicle screws on the left, and on the right respectively. This was introduced utilizing the voyager delivery system. With that rod deployed into the saddles of the pedicle screws, the rods were final tightened with the appropriate set screw. The towers of those pedicle screws were then removed.

I closed this oblique anterior abdominal wound initially with 2 Vicryl to reapproximate the fascia, 3-0 Vicryl to reapproximate the deep tissue, and then a running 4-0 Vicryl stitch. Steri-Strips were then applied and sterile Medipore dressing. I then turned my attention back to the posterior aspect. All incisions were then thoroughly irrigated. I did place approximately 20 cc of Exparel which had been diluted with 30 cc of normal saline in and around the musculature in the incisions. Closure was performed of the posterior incisions by initially closing the deep tissue with 3-0 Vicryl and reapproximating the skin and closing the skin with 4-0 running Vicryl stitch. Steri-Strips were also applied to these incisions as well and sterile Medipore dressing. The temporary navigation marker was also removed, and this was closed appropriately and sealed with a Medipore dressing.

He was then extubated in the operating in stable condition. All neuromonitoring returned back to baseline. he was transferred to the PACU in stable condition. At the end of the case, needle counts and
sponge counts were correct x2.

Medical Billing and Coding Forum

Left lateral thoracotomy with anterior

Can someone help me code this I am new to this kind of coding and just want to get an understanding of how to code for these procedures

PREOPERATIVE DIAGNOSIS: T11-T12 compression fracture.

POSTOPERATIVE DIAGNOSIS: T11-T12 compression fracture.

PROCEDURE PERFORMED: Left lateral thoracotomy with anterior exposure of T11 and T12, with T11-12 corpectomy with cage placement and a left eleventh partial rib resection.

DISPOSITION: The patient remained intubated in stable condition for posterior portion of the procedure. The left 28-French chest tube was to low continuous suction.

HISTORY: A 73-year-old female who has been seen by Dr. for ongoing worsening back pain due to a T11-12 compression, likely due to infection. The patient is now brought to the operating room for T12-T11 corpectomy to alleviate the compression on the spinal cord. The patient was worked up by Dr.preoperatively. The patient was also seen by me preoperatively to describe the approach through the left chest wall. Risks and benefits, alternatives were discussed to her. She agreed to proceed.

REPORT OF OPERATION: After consent was obtained, the patient was brought back to the operating room. An epidural catheter was placed. The patient was then endotracheally intubated with a double-lumen ET tube and then placed in a left lateral decubitus position, secured with a beanbag. There was an axillary roll placed and the extremities were padded and secured appropriately. The C-arm was brought in and the left chest was marked. The area of the compression was noted. The
incision was planned over top of the eleventh rib, starting anterolaterally and extending around posteriorly. After this, the left chest was prepped and draped in normal sterile fashion. Prior to incision, a timeout was performed. Dr. was present as well. All team members agreed with the procedure. After placing Ioban, the thorax was incised on the left side over top of the eleventh rib with a #10 blade, deepened down through the skin and subcutaneous tissue using cautery. Overlying musculature was divided over top of the 11th rib using cautery. I then dissected into the intercostals slightly with cautery. The lung was deflated. Using a curved 6 hemostat, the intercostals were taken down, preserving the parietal pleura. A space was dissected between the pleura and the diaphragm on the left side, dissecting down
posteriorly. The lateral aspect of the vertebral bodies could be identified. In order to assist with more visualization, it was attempted to dissect the pleura off of the spine; however, there was intense inflammation in this area and the pleura was stuck. Therefore, entry was gained into the pleura with the
lung decompressed. A Finochietto rib retractor was placed to open up the space. The dissection was completed through the intercostals. Next, a periosteal elevator was used to dissect free the posterior aspect of the 11th rib. Approximately a 1-1/2 inch segment of rib was taken with rib cutters preserving the neurovascular bundle. The Finochietto rib retractor was placed again and better exposure was taken. A moistened laparotomy sponge was used to retract the lung
cephalad. We were then able to palpate the area of concern, which was inflamed. The mid portion of the T11-T12 area was incised. There was intense inflammation in this area, which was dissected, identifying the anterior aspect of the vertebral body. I then dissected through the middle of the vertebral body. There was intense cicatrix of scar tissue. Anatomy was difficult to discern. The T12 spinal artery was identified and ligated with 3-0 Prolene stick ties divided. I then dissected up to T12 and down to L1. The L1 spinal artery was preserved and dissected so that its course could be delineated. Dr. was present and it was determined that he needed more exposure cephalad. Therefore, I dissected past T11, all the way up to the inferior aspect of T10. The T11 spinal artery was also dissected and ligated using clip
applier and 3-0 Prolene stick ties. Once the anterior aspect of all the vertebral bodies were cleared off, I did use a periosteal elevator to further clear off connective tissue along the lateral aspect of the vertebral bodies. Hemostasis was ensured. At this point, Dr. was present for his portion of the procedure. Once Dr. portion was
completed and the cage with extension was inserted and confirmed to be in correct position, I was then present to close the chest wall. Hemostasis was ensured. First, a stab incision was made over top of the 10th rib and with the lung deflated and under direct visualization, a 28-French chest tube was inserted over top of the 10th rib and placed within the apex of the posterolateral chest. Next, #2 Polysorb sutures were used to close the thoracotomy, which was between the 10th and 11th ribs. Prior to closing the defect by tying down the sutures, the lung was reinflated and the chest tube was placed more posteriorly for good drainage. Once the ribs
were closed, the muscle wall was closed with a running 0 Polysorb suture. The deep dermis was closed with running 2-0 Polysorb suture, and the skin was closed with staples. The chest tube was secured using a 0 silk suture and this was hooked to 20 cm of continuous wall suction. An Op-Site dressing was placed over top of the incision and the chest tube was secured with a banding gun and gauze and tape. There were no complications. The patient remained intubated in
satisfactory condition in the operating room for the posterior aspect of Dr. procedure. Sponge counts were correct at the end of the case. Instruments were not counted; however, there were multiple fluoroscopic views of the entire thoracic cavity, which revealed no foreign bodies.

Medical Billing and Coding Forum

ACL Repair, with Medial Meniscal Repair, and Lateral Menisectomy

For this knee surgery, I billed

29888 for the ACL repair
29882 for the Medial Meniscal Repair
29881 for the Lateral Menisectomy

The insurance company has paid the 29888 and 29881, but denies the 29882 [meniscal repair]
I need to Appeal the denial of the 29882 for the repair of the meniscus

Am I correct that these 3 codes can be billed together. If someone has had to appeal this coding also, would like some guidance on what to include in my letter that would be effective in getting this claim paid.

Thank you one and all,
Carol

Medical Billing and Coding Forum