A 53-year-old male patient presents to the OR for a planned arthroscopic acetabuloplasty. The physician inserts the scope and visualizes the repair site. Upon visualization, the surgeon determines the acetabuloplasty will require more extensive repair than initially expected. The surgeon removes the arthroscope and makes an arthrotomy into the hip joint. The surgeon completes a cup-type acetabuloplasty and concludes with layered closure of the skin and subcutaneous tissues. How should the coder appropriately report these procedures?
27120 - Acetabuloplasty: (e.g. Whitman, Colonna, Haygroves, or cup type)
29860 - Arthroscopy hip, diagnostic with or without synovial biopsy (separate procedure)

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The surgeon performed an arthroscopic acetabuloplasty (27120) and an arthrotomy (29860). The arthrotomy was performed because the arthroscopic acetabuloplasty required more extensive repair than initially expected. The arthrotomy is a separate procedure from the arthroscopic acetabuloplasty and should be reported with a modifier -59 to indicate that it was performed separately.

A 53-Year-Old Male Patient Presents to the OR for a Planned