A patient was brought to the operating room to repair a meniscal tear. An arthroscope is inserted into the trocar to examine the knee. Tibial plateau was in good condition. The posterior horn of the medial meniscus showed a complex tear. Using basket forceps and a full radius resector, the tear is debrided back to a healthy peripheral rim. The lateral meniscus was intact without evidence of tears.
What CPT® code is reported for the repair?
Answer A is correct 29881
here menisus repair is only happend not menisecotomy na???then how come 29881
Answer D makes more sense out of all of these- there was no meniscectomy
I think meniscectomy is selected because the documentation states "full radius resector, the tear is debrided back" -- the description for 29881 reads 'including debridement/shaving of articular cartilage".
The answer is A
There are two things you have to consider in this situation: the location of the tear which is the posterior horn of the medial meniscus and the type of tear which is complex tear. Complex tear is often only treatable via meniscectomy, therefore A is the correct answer. Key word is Medial OR lateral.
A IS THE ANSWER 29860 IS THE CODE FOR ARTHROSCOPIC MENISCECTOMY WHICH INCLUDES THE REMOVAL OF A PORTION OF THE MENISCUS . THE TEAR WAS DEBRIDED BACK TO A HEALTHY RIM .