AHA Coding Clinic® for ICD-9 - 2004 Issue 1; Clarifications

Insertion of Interbody Spinal Fusion Device

Should the insertion of an interbody fusion device be coded as a 360-degree spinal fusion? The vendor for the device is informing hospitals that the insertion of an interbody fusion device is indicative of a 360-degree spinal fusion. The orthopedic surgeons are now insisting that by definition of these two procedures being done together and only one incision being made that this is a 360-degree spinal fusion. The terminology they are directing hospitals to look for is TLIF - transforminal lumbar interbody fusion; PLIF - Posterior lumbar interbody fusion; and utilization of interbody fusion device. Would hospitals be correct in making this correlation? ...

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