CPT copyright 2010 American Medical Association. All rights reserved. CPT is a registered trademark of the American Medical Association.
The following article is written by Stephanie Ellis, RN, CPC, president of Ellis Medical Consulting.
Vertebral corpectomy procedures are performed to correct spinal compression resulting from a patient sustaining an anterior fracture of the vertebra. The discs above and below the fractured area are excised, followed by the partial or complete removal of the fractured vertebrae. A bone graft is inserted into the site and a plate may be needed to stabilize the area.
Use code 63081 for an initial cervical level vertebral corpectomy (vertebral body resection), partial or complete, anterior approach with decompression of spinal cord and/or nerve root(s).
Use add-on code 63082 for each additional cervical level vertebral corpectomy (vertebral body resection), partial or complete, anterior approach with decompression of spinal cord and/or nerve root(s).
Use code 63085 for an initial thoracic level lertebral corpectomy (vertebral body resection), partial or complete, transthoracic approach with decompression of spinal cord and/or nerve root(s).
Use add-on code 63086 for each additional thoracic level vertebral corpectomy (vertebral body resection), partial or complete, transthoracic approach with decompression of spinal cord and/or nerve root(s).
Use code 63087 for an initial lower thoracic or lumbar level vertebral corpectomy (vertebral body resection), partial or complete, combined thoracolumbar approach with decompression of spinal cord, cauda equina or nerve root(s).
Use add-on code 63088 for each additional lower thoracic or lumbar level vertebral corpectomy (vertebral body resection), partial or complete, combined thoracolumbar approach with decompression of spinal cord, cauda equina or nerve root(s).
Use code 63090 for vertebral corpectomy (vertebral body resection), partial or complete, transperitoneal or retroperitoneal approach with decompression of spinal cord, cauda equina or nerve root(s), lower thoracic, lumbar, or sacral; single segment.
Use add-on code 63091 for vertebral corpectomy (vertebral body resection), partial or complete, transperitoneal or retroperitoneal approach with decompression of spinal cord, cauda equina or nerve root(s), lower thoracic, lumbar, or sacral; each additional segment.
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