Surgery: Musculoskeletal System (December 2007)

December 2007 page 8d Coding Communication:Surgery: Musculoskeletal System Question: I reported CPT code 21453, Closed treatment of mandibular fracture with interdental fixation, for a closed treatment of mandibular fracture with interdental fixation using arch bars. I am unable to locate a specific code for arch bar removal. Can I report CPT code 20670, Removal of implant; superficial, (eg, buried wire, pin or rod) (separate procedure), for the subsequent removal of the arch bars? Or is there a more appropriate code that I should report? Answer: It is appropriate to report code 20670 for arch bar removal because it is...

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

Article Overview

This article is a brief coding communication from CPT Assistant focused on a musculoskeletal surgery scenario involving mandibular fracture treatment and a later removal procedure. It explains the kind of follow-up billing question raised, notes that payer policies may affect reporting, and references the CPT code set and related modifiers in a general way. It is intended for coders and billing staff who work with surgical global periods, postoperative services, and payer-specific reporting requirements.

Why This Topic Matters

It helps coders identify whether a postoperative removal service should be considered separately from the original surgical service and reminds readers that payer rules may influence claim reporting.

What You Will Learn

  • The general billing issue raised by a postoperative implant-removal question
  • How payer-specific reporting requirements can affect surgical claim handling
  • The role of global period considerations in postoperative coding communication
  • Which coding references are discussed in the article at a high level

Who Should Read This

  • Medical coders
  • Coding auditors
  • Billing specialists
  • Orthopedic and oral/maxillofacial surgery staff

Codes Discussed

Modifiers Discussed


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