tci ED Coding & Reimbursement Alert - 2003 Issue 11

You Be the Coder: Coding an Interrupted Lumbar Puncture

Question: A physician attempted a lumbar puncture on a patient. During the procedure, the patient's left leg became numb and he had severe paresthesias. The doctor had to cease the procedure before cerebrospinal fluid was retrieved.     Ohio SubscriberAnswer: The lumbar puncture should be coded 62270*-53 (Spinal puncture, lumbar, diagnostic; Discontinued procedure).  Modifier -53 is most commonly used in operating room cases that are discontinued "due to circumstances that threaten the well-being of the patient," but services performed in the OR are not the only ones that you can append -53 to.  Confusion...

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