AMA CPT® Assistant - 2011 Issue 10 (October)

Surgery: Musculoskeletal System (Q&A) (October 2011)

October 2011 page 10b Surgery: Musculoskeletal System Question: A surgeon performs revision surgery on a patient with a diagnosis of pseudarthrosis of L4-5. He removes a previously placed polyetheretherketone (PEEK) interbody cage and then performs a revision posterolateral interbody fusion placing a new PEEK cage at the same spinal level, L4-5. Is it appropriate to report code 22849 for removal and replacement of the interverteral PEEK cage at L4-5? Answer: No. It is not appropriate to report code 22849, Reinsertion of spinal fixation device, in addition to code 22851, Application of intervertebral biomechanical device(s) (eg, synthetic cage(s), methylmethacrylate) to...

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CPT® Assistant content is the official source for CPT® coding guidance. It is an instrumental tool when appealing insurance denials and validating coding to auditors. Monthly issues and an extensive archive provide comprehensive guidance on proper CPT® coding for past, present and upcoming code set releases. Archives date back to 1990 for historical use of codes, changes, rationales, coding tips and trends in the industry.

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