Medial patellofemoral ligament (MPFL) repair

A patient who underwent a Mako patellofemoral joint replacement two months prior, fell and presented with a lateral patellar dislocation requiring a medial patellofemoral ligament (MPFL) repair with capsular closure. Tape was placed in horizontal mattress configuration at the top of the patella retinacular tissue to roughly midway down the length of the patella and then placed through the retinacular tissues and pulled to the MPFL insertion. An anchor was placed at the insertion. Following testing for flexion, the repair was backed up with capsular closure. What is the code assignment for an open MPFL repair, CPT code 27405 , 27566 or an unlisted code? ...

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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 addresses how to classify a specific orthopedic repair scenario involving a medial patellofemoral ligament procedure after a patellar dislocation. It is aimed at coders and billing professionals who need to compare potentially relevant CPT options and determine whether the service is best represented by a specific code or an unlisted-code approach. The discussion focuses on procedure scope, surgical context, and coding selection considerations within orthopedic coding.

Why This Topic Matters

Orthopedic coding for patellar instability procedures can be difficult when the operative work overlaps with joint replacement history and repair of supporting soft tissues. This article helps users understand the coding relevance of the operative scenario and why accurate CPT assignment matters for compliant reporting.

What You Will Learn

  • How an MPFL repair scenario is evaluated for CPT reporting
  • How the presence of patellar dislocation and prior joint replacement affects coding relevance
  • How to think about whether a specific code or an unlisted code is appropriate for the described procedure
  • The broader orthopedic coding context for patellar instability-related surgery

Who Should Read This

  • Medical coders
  • Billing staff
  • Orthopedic coding professionals
  • Revenue cycle teams
  • Auditors

Codes Discussed


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