AHA Coding Clinic® for ICD-9 - 2004 Issue 4; VOLUME 3 NEW/REVISED PROCEDURE CODES

Vertebroplasty and Kyphoplasty

Effective October 1, 2004, unique codes have been created to identify vertebroplasty (81.65) and kyphoplasty (81.66). Prior to this change, these procedures were reported with code 78.49, Other repair or plastic operation on bone, other. Vertebroplasty and kyphoplasty are both minimally invasive surgical procedures for treating vertebral compression fractures due to osteoporosis, osteolysis, or less commonly, cancer where a cement-like material is injected into the collapsed bone. This material hardens and stabilizes the fracture and provides immediate pain relief in many cases. Kyphoplasty differs from vertebroplasty in that kyphoplasty involves additional steps in an attempt to...

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