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removal of crosslinks in spine surgery

My physician placed segmental instrumentation in November from T3-T11 with Crosslinks placed at T6 and T8. In March the Crosslinks started to come through the skin so my provider decided to remove the Crosslinks only. No other surgery or instrumentation was replaced or inserted. I coded this as 22899 but the coding educator from our group disagreed and states this should be coded as 22852. Can someone please provide some additional information for removal of Crosslinks? If this is considered segmental 22852 should I also add modifier-52 since the entire instrumentation was not removed?

Medical Billing and Coding Forum

Septic Arthritis of Spine vs Vertebrae

I’m working on a research project for my company but I haven’t been able to find any information regarding correct coding of Septic Arthritis of Lumbar/Cervical/Thoracic.

When you look in the index of the code book there are 2 code options. I’m hoping someone can help point me to information that will help me understand when to code the M00.88 and when to choose M46.5x.

Arthritis
Septic (any site except spine) – see Arthritis, pyogenic or pyemic
Spine – see spondylopathy, infective
Arthritis
Pyogenic/pyemic (any site except spine)
Bacterial NEC – M00.9
Vertebra – M00.88
Spondylopathy
Infective NEC – M46.50
Cervical – M46.52
Lumbar – M46.56
Thoracic – M46.54

Thank you!

Medical Billing and Coding Forum

SPINE help!

Hello Group. I need to pose an coding question. I have the following spine case:

L3-L5 exploration of fusion, findings intact solid fusion
L2 decompressive laminectomy,facectomy for stenosis
posterior nonsegmental pedicular instrumentation at L2 with polyaxial screws.
L2-L3 posterolateral arthrodesis

My question is on the instrumentation. He removes the rod from the previous fusion L3-L5. He adds new screws at L2, then connects L2-L5 with a *NEW* rod. Is my code 22840 or 22842? The new rod connects to screws going from L2-L5. Thoughts?

Thanks!

Medical Billing and Coding Forum

Spine Surgery

Does Anyone have any thoughts on how to code this? I am completely lost. Any help is greatly appreciated!

Preoperative Diagnosis:
1. Compartment syndrome paraspinal
*
Postoperative Diagnosis: same as above
*
Procedure(s):
1. Stryker compartment measuring
2. Fascia compartment release left and right dorsal paraspinal muscle
3. Debridement of dead muscle (deep)
4. Woundvac placmeent

*
OPERATIVE COURSE:

The patient was brought into the Operating Room and upon reaching the
Operating Room, the patient underwent general anesthesia without any
complications.
*
Next, I identified the skin marking and a time out was performed. The
patient was prepped and draped in the usual sterile fashion. Antibiotics
were present. DVT prophylaxis were present.
*
We checked compartment pressure. The left was 90 mmhg and 85 mg while diastolic pressure was 75 mmhg.
*
The right was 40 and 35 mm Hg.
*
Next, the skin was incised. Two paraspinal incision were made. The left we got the fascia. We released the fascia and the muscle did swell somewhat. We kept releasing fascia till we were confident the muscle was released. We check the muscle, the deep muscles seemed necrotic so we debrided the dead tissue.
*
Next we di the same on the right. The musce was more pale and white and did not contract. We did not have much swelling of the muscle. We debrided deep any dead muscle.
We irrigated then placed a woundvac over the two wounds,
*
We will re look at the muscle in 3-5 days with wound vac change and possible closure.

Medical Billing and Coding Forum

Spine surgery

Help with coding:

Postop dx:L4-L5 spinal stenosis with left paracentral herniated disk.
Procedure in summary:
Placed prone on Jackson OSI table, Multiplanar fluoroscopy was brought into view where the L4-L5 level was identified. through a midline incision, dissection was carried down through skin and subcutaneous tissue down to the level of the lumbar fascia. This was incised and the L4-L5 segment was identified.performed a central laminectomy at the L4 level followed by hemilaminectomy at the L5 level using a combination of Leksell rongeur as well as Kerrison punches. A severe spinal stenosis noted at L4-L5, moderate paracentral herniated disk was also noted at the left L4-L5 segment. This was removed in its entirety and then attention was directed to the L4-L5 level. The disk space was flushed without any recurrent fragments. Intraoperative microscope was used to visualize the fine structures in the field and performed a tedious dissection of the stenosis in the 4-5 segment. The wound was then copiously irrigated and closed in layers. Not sure if 63030 is the only code I can use?
thank you

Medical Billing and Coding Forum

Spine coding across levels

Patient has the following procedure, how would this be coded?

T10 to ilium fusion, patient has previous fusion of L2-L5
Screw placement bilaterally at T10-L1 & S1, iliac screw
L1-L2 & L5-S1 TLIF
L1-L2 laminectomy & bilateral facetectomy, L5-S1 unilateral foraminotomy with facetectomy and partial laminectomy

Medical Billing and Coding Forum

Lumbar Spine diskectomy reexploration

I only code a couple spine surgeries a year, so sort of at a loss here. Any help is appreciated. The patient had a previous LEFT sided L5-S1 Diskectomy with laminotomy and foraminotomy for HNP L5-S1.
A year later, he now had a "Repeat discectomy left sided L5-S1 with foraminotomy and laminotomy. Lysis of adhesions. " AND RIGHT Sided diskectomy with laminotomy and foraminotomy. The OP note is hard to read, with many transcription errors (that will need to be fixed). But bascially, all that was done on the LEFT side was lysis of adhesions. Here’s that portion of the OP Note:

"Scar tissue present was removed. The dura was visualized above and below previous surgical site. Some adhesion between the nerve roots was also identified and released. Feel adequate safe interval to perform the discectomy through the scar tissue therefore attention was turned to the right side."

Is this enough for 63042 ? I can’t tell if a laminotomy and/or foramintomy was actually done. Diskectomy wasn’t done.

The RIGHT side looks like a straightforward laminotomy with diskectomy – 63030. It’s the "repeat" procedure I’m stuck on.

Thanks,
Cindy

Medical Billing and Coding Forum

Spine surgery

Not sure about the osteotomies & segments, etc.
22212
22214
22216
15734
22614
22612
22849
22852
22830
22848
22844
22633
22853
63056
22325

PROCEDURE:
1. Removal of implants bilateral T4
2. Exploration of fusion L5-S1
3. Reinsertion of spinal fixation device L4
4. Left sided pelvic fixation
5. Posterior instrumentation C2-T6 and T10 to S1, except L4
6. Posterior spinal fusion C2-T6 and T10-L5
7. Posterior column osteotomy T2-3, 3-4, L2-3
8. Transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion L2-3
9. Placement of interbody device L2-3
10. Left L3 transpedicular decompression
11. Myocutaneous flap coverage cervicothoracic spine
12. Placement and removal of mayfield tongs
13. Open Reduction Internal Fixation T4

A posterior midline skin incision was made through skin and subcutaneous tissue, and a posterior midline dissection in a subperiosteal fashion was performed. 2 separate incision were made from C2-T6 and then from T10-ileum.
*
Next, at L3, the implants were removed, palpated and checked for any significant breaches, and left uninstrumented. The rods were cut bilaterally at this level. The right sided rod felt like it was about to break anyway.
*
Posterior column osteotomies were then performed in the following manner from L2-3 in a revision manner: The ligamentum flavum was identified at all levels and resected. Next the superior articulating process was resected. The inferior articulating process was resected earlier in the procedure. This allowed for a complete posterior release with a disconnection of all the posterior elements between the vertebral bodies involved. Bleeding was controlled with bipolar electrocautery and packing of the osteotomy site.
*
Next a transpedicular decompression was performed at L3 for purposes of decompression. This is performed by isolating the pedicle bilaterally, and then using a drill, and rongeur, the pedicles were removed to ensure adequate lateral decompression across a severely stenotic segment.
*
Next a left sided approach was taken to L2-3 into the foramen. The thecal sac was dissected and retracted medially. The disc space was identified. It was entered with a knife. Sequential shaving and disc removal then was performed. The endplates were then denuded of cartilaginous material. Sequential trialing was performed and a size 12 mm implant was selected. It was prepared on the back table with bone graft. Bone morphogenic protein was placed in the anterior disc space. The implant was then placed and back filled with bone graft. This was then checked in AP and lateral planes. This graft is placed on the left side and kept to the left of midline as this is where the asymmetric graft placement needed to be performed to allow his coronal deformity correction to occur.
*
Next between T10-S1 pedicle screws were placed in the following manner. Starting point was identified, bur was used to get the appropriate starting point, follow using a gearshift probe, this is used to cannulate the pedicle into the vertebral body. Next the ball-tipped probe was used to identify any medial lateral superior inferior or anterior breaches. Once confirmed that the trajectory was through the pedicle into the vertebral body, the appropriately sized pedicle screw was placed without any further sequela. At the conclusion of placing the pedicle screws all the screws were tested with EMG trigger testing and found to be within a satisfactory range, and were also examined with intraoperative fluoroscopy in the AP and lateral planes.
*
Next the left iliac bolt set screw was removed and the fixation removed. IT was then reinserted to get adequate fixation into the pelvis.
*
The area of previous fusion was then explored. Between L5-S1 the fusion was found to be solid with no need for additional arthrodesis.
*
Next, from T10-L5, all bony surfaces were decorticated, and bone graft laid. This included both autograft harvested from the same incision as well as allograft bone in addition to bone morphogenic protein–2. Next all setscrews were final tightened manufacture specifications. Wounds are copiously irrigated with saline, and a final timeout was taken confirming good motor and sensory evoked potentials, vancomycin powder having been placed deep, drain having been placed deep, bone graft laid, and final tightening performed.
*
The wounds were then copiously irrigated irrigated with saline, and the wound thoroughly inspected. Next the wound was closed in meticulous fashion with deep Vicryl sutures followed by superficial closure in the subcutaneous layer as well as closing the skin in a separate layer. Prineo was used on the skin. We then turned our attention to the proximal spine.
*
*
Next starting point was obtained with a 2 mm bur from C2-T6. Next using a drill, the lateral mass was drilled to the appropriate depth. All of the pilot holes were tapped, followed by placing the appropriate length lateral mass screw C2-C6. Next between T1-T6 pedicle screws were placed in the following manner. Starting point was identified, bur was used to get the appropriate starting point, follow using a gearshift probe, this is used to cannulate the pedicle into the vertebral body. Next the ball-tipped probe was used to identify any medial lateral superior inferior or anterior breaches. Once confirmed that the trajectory was through the pedicle into the vertebral body, the appropriately sized pedicle screw was placed without any further sequela. At the conclusion of placing the pedicle screws all the screws were tested with EMG trigger testing and found to be within a satisfactory range, and were also examined with intraoperative fluoroscopy in the AP and lateral planes.
*
The facet joints were then decorticated from C2 – T6 with the use of a bur, along with decorticating the lamina. Bone graft was then laid for fusion purposes.
*
Posterior column osteotomies were then performed in the following manner from T2-4: The ligamentum flavum was identified at all levels and resected. Next the superior articulating process was resected. The inferior articulating process was resected earlier in the procedure. This allowed for a complete posterior release with a disconnection of all the posterior elements between the vertebral bodies involved. Bleeding was controlled with bipolar electrocautery and packing of the osteotomy site.
*
Next 2 rods were cut and contoured to the appropriate sagittal and coronal alignment. There were secured distally. Then in a cantilever fashion the rod was brought to the screws spine was reduced including the fracture at T4. This completed the open reduction and internal fixation of the fracture. The rods were then seated into the screws, and set screws placed. This helped reduce the remainder of the patient’s deformity. The setscrews were then final tightened manufacture specifications
*612559921

Medical Billing and Coding Forum

Coding Help for Multilevel approach to the anterior cervical spine

Can anyone assist me in how I might code my ear, nose and throat doctor for assisting in opening for a spine surgery Multi-level approach to the anterior cervical spine for diskectomy and fusion. 3 levels total, levels 4-5, 5-6 and 6-7. Thanks.

Medical Billing and Coding Forum

Spine Surgery For Medical Tourists In India

Regardless of which part of the world one belongs to, ‘wellness’ tops the list of all the human-necessities. The surging costs of medical treatment in developed countries like the US, UK, Canada, Germany etc. have led to the boom of medical tourism in India- some parts of Asia, Costa Rica, Mexico- some parts of South America.

In the US, a spine fusion surgery costs a whopping $ 45,000 whereas the cost of Spine Surgery India is as low as 20% of the above amount-this is illustrative of the increasing number of medical tourists flocking into India. Incidentally, India has some of world’s best renowned spinal surgeons to support the emerging medical tourism sector. The staggering figures in the Indian healthcare market are indicative of the promising future of medical tourism in India.

As per a report submitted by consulting firm Deloitte, medical tourism sector in India is expected to grow by 30 per cent per annum from 2009 to 2015. From the perspective of healthcare tourism India, a spine surgery may consist of a series of complimentary recuperative services such as physiotherapy, alternative healthcare and holiday package for medical tourists.

A typical diagnosis of spinal cord problems can be clubbed into any one or more of the following- spinal disorder like stenosis, slipped disc, disc protrusion, disc inflammation leading to back pain, neck pain and other radiating symptoms. Therefore, a spine surgery is an advanced treatment used to counter pain and disability caused to the spinal cord and those conditions that cannot be rectified through non-surgical treatment.

In addition, the advent of latest techniques like Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery has allowed medical tourists to opt for safe and secure spine surgery at affordable costs under the medical guidance of well-trained surgeons. With this technology in place, spine surgery is no longer fearsome as it used to be some years ago.

The relevance of medical tourism becomes essential for certain areas of medical treatment and individuals with conditions such as:

1. Cosmetic or wellness treatment which is generally uncovered under insurance protections.

2. Medically uninsured individuals in developed countries who are unable to be insured due the sky-high medical costs. An alarming truth is that nearly 16% of the population in the US is uninsured.

3. Underinsured individuals depend on medical tourism to supplement the lack of medical coverage for expensive area of medical care.

4. The miscellaneous group or those without insurance due to retirement, high medical bills, certain surgery or procedure which is not covered under Medicare benefits.

The Indian healthcare sector has undergone a major face-lift- state-of-the-art hospitals, latest technologies and medicines and advancement in the field medical research and development have turned the country into one of the best medical tourism destinations in the world. Since ancient times the Indian sub-continent is well-known for traditional or alternative therapies like Yoga and Ayurvedic medicine in the world.

Today, alternative care therapies have become one of the greatest components of wellness treatment. So check out Spine Surgery India and hip replacement India. In Spine Surgery India, these therapies are often complimented with modern medicine for optimum results.

ICRI Medical Tourism is recognized as the pioneering global healthcare facilitator company providing excellent medical treatment services such as Best Hospitals In India and Spine Surgery India . For more info visit icrimedicaltourism.com

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