Is a Meniscectomy the same as debridement?
Meniscectomy is a form of arthroscopic debridement in which a torn meniscus is removed. The meniscus is a piece of cartilage that works to optimise the load bearing of the knee joint as well as to stabilise the knee joint.
What is the CPT code for knee debridement?
29877
Report CPT code 29877 (Arthroscopy, knee, surgical; debridement/shaving of articular cartilage [chrondroplasty]) for arthroscopic debridement with presentation of knee pain only, or arthroscopic debridement without lavage for patients with severe osteoarthritis.
What is meniscectomy debridement?
A meniscectomy and debridement is an arthroscopic surgery that involves removing parts of a torn meniscus or the entire torn meniscus. A total meniscectomy removes the entire meniscus, whereas, a partial meniscectomy removes only a portion of the meniscus.
What is a knee debridement?
Arthroscopic debridement is a surgical procedure that removes the broken down bits of cartilage and tissues to help reduce pain and improve movement. It is most commonly performed to help reduce the symptoms of arthritis so that you can regain much of the function of your knee while reducing pain.
What is the CPT code for ACL debridement?
Arthroscopic debridement of ACL tears should be reported with the unlisted code 29999.
What is a meniscectomy procedure?
Arthroscopic meniscectomy is an outpatient minimally invasive surgical procedure used to treat a torn meniscus cartilage in the knee. The meniscus is often torn as a result of sport-related injury in athletic individuals. Only the torn segment of the meniscus is removed.
What is the CPT code for meniscus surgery?
CPT Codes 27332 – Arthrotomy, with excision of semilunar cartilage (meniscectomy) knee 27333 – Arthrotomy, with excision of semilunar cartilage (meniscectomy) knee 29868 – Arthroscopy, knee, surgical; meniscal transplantation (includes arthrotomy for meniscal insertion), medial or lateral
What is the CPT code for debridement of articular cartilage?
“From a CPT® coding perspective, if debridement or shaving of articular cartilage and meniscectomy are performed in the same compartment of the knee, then only code 29881, Arthroscopy, knee, surgical; with meniscectomy (medial or lateral, including any meniscal shaving), should be reported.
What is the CPT code for left lateral meniscectomy and chondroplasty?
Example 1— The surgeon performs and documents arthroscopic left lateral meniscectomy and arthroscopic tricompartmental chondroplasty and reports code 29881. The chondroplasty is inclusive and not separately reportable even though the procedure is performed in two separate compartments.
Why can’t I report meniscectomy code 29877 instead of 29880?
In the medial compartment the meniscus was debrided which is meniscectomy. If you look up 29877 in your CPT book it has a note that if meniscectomy is performed you have to report codes 29880 or 29881. You ask why you can’t report 29877 instead? Because the coding instructions tell you not to and meniscectomy of the lateral meniscus is documented.