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The following article is written by Stephanie Ellis, RN, CPC, president of Ellis Medical Consulting.
Kyphoplasty procedures are a modification of percutaneous vertebroplasty procedures and are performed to lessen pain from compression fractures of the spine caused by osteoporosis by restoring the vertebral body.
Balloon catheters called tamps are inserted into the vertebra and inflated to create a void in the bone and restore alignment of the vertebrae. The surgeon removes the balloon and injects bone cement into the spine.
Use CPT 22523 for a thoracic percutaneous vertebral augmentation, including cavity creation (fracture reduction and bone biopsy included when performed) using mechanical device, 1 vertebral body, unilateral or bilateral cannulation (eg, kyphoplasty).
Use code 22524 for a lumbar percutaneous vertebral augmentation, including cavity creation (fracture reduction and bone biopsy included when performed) using mechanical device, 1 vertebral body, unilateral or bilateral cannulation (eg, kyphoplasty).
Use add-on code 22525 for each additional thoracic or lumbar vertebral body percutaneous vertebral augmentation, including cavity creation (fracture reduction and bone biopsy included when performed) using mechanical device, 1 vertebral body, unilateral or bilateral cannulation (eg, kyphoplasty).
Since there is no regular CPT code for the procedure being performed at a cervical level, use the unlisted CPT code 22899 for a cervical kyphoplasty procedure.
Learn more about Ellis Medical Consulting.
The information provided should be utilized for educational purposes only. Please consult with your billing and coding expert. Facilities are ultimately responsible for verifying the reporting policies of individual commercial and MAC/FI carriers prior to claim submissions.
Related Articles on Spine Coding:
Surgery Center Coding Guidance: Posterior Laminectomy or Laminotomy
Surgery Center Coding Guidance: Total Disc Arthroplasty Procedures
Surgery Center Coding Guidance: X-Stop Procedure