Anterior longitudinal ligament

A 16-year-old high school soccer player who sustained injury to his left knee while playing soccer at school was diagnosed with an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) tear and a lateral meniscus tear. The patient underwent a partial meniscectomy, an ACL reconstruction of the left knee, and reconstruction of the anterior longitudinal ligament (ALL). What is the correct CPT code assignment for an ALL reconstruction? Would the ALL reconstruction be considered inherent in CPT code 27427, Ligamentous reconstruction (augmentation), knee; extra-articular, or would CPT code 29999, Unlisted procedure, arthroscopy, be more appropriate in this case?   ...

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Note:  The following article synopsis was NOT provided by the AHA. It was created by Find-A-Code/innoviHealth.

Article Overview

This premium article examines how a specific knee ligament reconstruction scenario is approached for CPT coding purposes. It is aimed at coders, billers, and other revenue cycle professionals who need to assess whether the service aligns with an existing knee ligament reconstruction code or requires an unlisted procedure code. The article centers on a sports-related surgical case and focuses on coding interpretation for ligament reconstruction in conjunction with other knee procedures.

Why This Topic Matters

Accurate reporting of uncommon orthopedic procedures depends on knowing whether a service is considered part of an established code or should be handled with an unlisted code. This article helps readers evaluate that distinction in a knee surgery context.

What You Will Learn

  • How this knee ligament reconstruction scenario is framed for CPT review
  • How the article approaches the relationship between a named ligament reconstruction and broader knee surgery coding questions
  • How an unlisted procedure code may be considered in an orthopedic case context
  • How sports-injury surgical coding questions are presented for review

Who Should Read This

  • Medical coders
  • Orthopedic billing staff
  • Revenue cycle professionals
  • Coding auditors

Codes Discussed

  • CPT: 27427
  • CPT: 29999

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