tci General Surgery Coding Alert - 2005 Issue 9

READER QUESTIONS: Big Needle Equals Incision

Question: The surgeon removed a fishhook by inserting an 18-gauge needle into the puncture. Should I report this using a foreign-body removal code?South Carolina Subscriber Answer: Yes. The CPT codes for foreign-body removal that may be appropriate in this case are 10120 (Incision and removal of foreign body, subcutaneous tissues; simple) and 10121 (... complicated), and both codes require the physician to make an incision to remove the object. The insertion of a needle this size would generally meet the requirement for making an incision.If the physician doesn't create an incision to remove the foreign body, you...

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