Forum - Questions & Answers

Oct 15th, 2012 - cdortho

anterior cervical corpectomy

I have recently read a operative report stating an anterior cervical corpectomy was performed at C4 and a fusion performed at C4-C5, additionally a diskectomy and osteophytectomy and fusion at C5-C6 along with a vertebral corpectomy at C7 including a fusion at C6-7. How can this be billed?
63081- C4, 22554 - C4-5, 22551 at C5-6, 63082 at C7, 22585 at C6-7?
I'm very confused with the new code 22551 when other procedures are performed at other levels of the spine. Please try to explain this CPT® 22551 further. Thank you

Oct 16th, 2012 - nmaguire   2,606 

re: anterior cervical corpectomy

Use code 22551 for the first level of cervical fusion and discectomy performed and add-on code 22552 for subsequent levels.
22551 – Arthrodesis, anterior interbody, including disc space preparation, discectomy, osteophytectomy and decompression of spinal cord and/or nerve roots; cervical below C2.
An anterior cervical discectomy (63075) can no longer be reported with code 22551 because “discectomy, osteophytectomy and decompression” are already included as part of the code descriptor for 22551.
http://www.zimmer.com/content/pdf/en-US/2012_coding_guidance_for_spinal_procedures.pdf (physician coding-page 3)

Oct 16th, 2012 -

re: anterior cervical corpectomy

Thank you for your response. If the surgeon removes 1/2 the vertebral body at C4 and performs a fusion at C4-C5, wouldn't that be 63081 and 22554. the CPT® 22551 would actually be at level C5-C6 if discectomy and fusion was performed there. Correct? I getting alot of denials, as our physicians do quite abit of corpectomies to stabilize the spine with vertebral removal, at C4 and C7. Doing also a discectomy in between the corpectomy levels. This is where i have problems. Any help would be appreciated.
Thanks again



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