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Official Description

Percutaneous vertebroplasty (bone biopsy included when performed), 1 vertebral body, unilateral or bilateral injection, inclusive of all imaging guidance; each additional cervicothoracic or lumbosacral vertebral body (List separately in addition to code for primary procedure)

© Copyright 2025 American Medical Association. All rights reserved.

Common Language Description

Percutaneous vertebroplasty is a minimally invasive procedure designed to stabilize compression fractures in the spine, often resulting from osteoporosis. This procedure is particularly beneficial for patients suffering from vertebral body fractures, which can lead to significant pain and disability. In addition to treating fractures caused by osteoporosis, percutaneous vertebroplasty may also be indicated for aggressive hemangiomas of the vertebral body and for providing palliative care for pathological fractures associated with benign or malignant tumors in the spine. The procedure involves the precise injection of a bone cement mixture into the affected vertebral body to restore structural integrity and alleviate pain. The patient is typically positioned on their stomach, and imaging guidance, such as fluoroscopy or computed tomography (CT), is utilized to accurately locate the vertebral level that requires treatment. Local anesthesia is administered to ensure patient comfort during the procedure. If a biopsy is indicated, a small incision is made to allow for the collection of a bone sample, which is then sent for pathological examination. The overall goal of percutaneous vertebroplasty is to enhance the quality of life for patients by reducing pain and improving mobility through the stabilization of the affected vertebrae.

© Copyright 2025 Coding Ahead. All rights reserved.

1. Indications

Percutaneous vertebroplasty is indicated for the following conditions:

  • Compression fractures due to osteoporosis - These fractures often lead to significant pain and can impair mobility.
  • Aggressive hemangiomas of the vertebral body - These benign tumors can cause pain and structural instability in the spine.
  • Palliative treatment of pathological fractures - This includes fractures caused by benign or malignant neoplasms of the spine, where the goal is to alleviate pain and improve quality of life.

2. Procedure

The procedure for percutaneous vertebroplasty involves several key steps:

  • Patient positioning - The patient is placed in a prone position to allow access to the vertebral body that requires treatment.
  • Imaging guidance - Fluoroscopic or CT imaging is utilized to accurately identify the vertebral level that needs intervention.
  • Administration of local anesthesia - Local anesthesia is applied to ensure the patient remains comfortable throughout the procedure.
  • Needle insertion - A spinal needle is advanced into one side of the vertebral body using a transpedicular or parapedicular approach. Deep local and subperiosteal anesthesia is also administered at this stage.
  • Bone biopsy (if needed) - If a biopsy is indicated, a small incision is made in the skin, and a bone biopsy needle is advanced into the vertebral body to obtain a bone sample, which is sent for pathological examination.
  • Injection of bone cement - A mixture of polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) bone cement and a contrast medium is injected into the vertebral body. The contrast medium allows for visualization of the cement as it diffuses throughout the intertrabecular bone marrow space, reinforcing the structure of the fractured vertebral body.
  • Needle withdrawal - After the injection, the spinal needle is withdrawn from the vertebral body.
  • Bilateral procedures - If a bilateral repair is required, a second injection is performed on the opposite side of the vertebral body.

3. Post-Procedure

Post-procedure care for patients undergoing percutaneous vertebroplasty typically includes monitoring for any immediate complications, such as infection or bleeding. Patients may experience some discomfort at the injection site, which can be managed with analgesics. It is important for patients to follow up with their healthcare provider to assess the effectiveness of the procedure and to discuss any further treatment options if necessary. Recovery time can vary, but many patients report significant pain relief and improved mobility shortly after the procedure.

Short Descr VERTEBROPLASTY ADDL INJECT
Medium Descr VERTEBROPLASTY EACH ADDL CERVICOTHOR/LUMBOSACRAL
Long Descr Percutaneous vertebroplasty (bone biopsy included when performed), 1 vertebral body, unilateral or bilateral injection, inclusive of all imaging guidance; each additional cervicothoracic or lumbosacral vertebral body (List separately in addition to code for primary procedure)
Status Code Active Code
Global Days ZZZ - Code Related to Another Service
PC/TC Indicator (26, TC) 0 - Physician Service Code
Multiple Procedures (51) 0 - No payment adjustment rules for multiple procedures apply.
Bilateral Surgery (50) 0 - 150% payment adjustment for bilateral procedures does NOT apply.
Physician Supervisions 09 - Concept does not apply.
Assistant Surgeon (80, 82) 1 - Statutory payment restriction for assistants at surgery applies to this procedure...
Co-Surgeons (62) 0 - Co-surgeons not permitted for this procedure.
Team Surgery (66) 0 - Team surgeons not permitted for this procedure.
Diagnostic Imaging Family 99 - Concept Does Not Apply
APC Status Indicator Items and Services Packaged into APC Rates
ASC Payment Indicator Packaged service/item; no separate payment made.
Type of Service (TOS) 2 - Surgery
Berenson-Eggers TOS (BETOS) P1G - Major procedure - Other
MUE 3

This is an add-on code that must be used in conjunction with one of these primary codes.

22510 MPFS Status: Active Code APC J1 ASC G2 Percutaneous vertebroplasty (bone biopsy included when performed), 1 vertebral body, unilateral or bilateral injection, inclusive of all imaging guidance; cervicothoracic
22511 MPFS Status: Active Code APC J1 ASC G2 Percutaneous vertebroplasty (bone biopsy included when performed), 1 vertebral body, unilateral or bilateral injection, inclusive of all imaging guidance; lumbosacral
59 Distinct procedural service: under certain circumstances, it may be necessary to indicate that a procedure or service was distinct or independent from other non-e/m services performed on the same day. modifier 59 is used to identify procedures/services, other than e/m services, that are not normally reported together, but are appropriate under the circumstances. documentation must support a different session, different procedure or surgery, different site or organ system, separate incision/excision, separate lesion, or separate injury (or area of injury in extensive injuries) not ordinarily encountered or performed on the same day by the same individual. however, when another already established modifier is appropriate it should be used rather than modifier 59. only if no more descriptive modifier is available, and the use of modifier 59 best explains the circumstances, should modifier 59 be used. note: modifier 59 should not be appended to an e/m service. to report a separate and distinct e/m service with a non-e/m service performed on the same date, see modifier 25.
AS Physician assistant, nurse practitioner, or clinical nurse specialist services for assistant at surgery
GC This service has been performed in part by a resident under the direction of a teaching physician
GZ Item or service expected to be denied as not reasonable and necessary
X5 Diagnostic services requested by another clinician: for reporting services by a clinician who furnishes care to the patient only as requested by another clinician or subsequent and related services requested by another clinician; this modifier is reported for patient relationships that may not be adequately captured by the above alternative categories; reporting clinician service examples include but are not limited to, the radiologist's interpretation of an imaging study requested by another clinician
22 Increased procedural services: when the work required to provide a service is substantially greater than typically required, it may be identified by adding modifier 22 to the usual procedure code. documentation must support the substantial additional work and the reason for the additional work (ie, increased intensity, time, technical difficulty of procedure, severity of patient's condition, physical and mental effort required). note: this modifier should not be appended to an e/m service.
58 Staged or related procedure or service by the same physician or other qualified health care professional during the postoperative period: it may be necessary to indicate that the performance of a procedure or service during the postoperative period was: (a) planned or anticipated (staged); (b) more extensive than the original procedure; or (c) for therapy following a surgical procedure. this circumstance may be reported by adding modifier 58 to the staged or related procedure. note: for treatment of a problem that requires a return to the operating/procedure room (eg, unanticipated clinical condition), see modifier 78.
76 Repeat procedure or service by same physician or other qualified health care professional: it may be necessary to indicate that a procedure or service was repeated by the same physician or other qualified health care professional subsequent to the original procedure or service. this circumstance may be reported by adding modifier 76 to the repeated procedure or service. note: this modifier should not be appended to an e/m service.
78 Unplanned return to the operating/procedure room by the same physician or other qualified health care professional following initial procedure for a related procedure during the postoperative period: it may be necessary to indicate that another procedure was performed during the postoperative period of the initial procedure (unplanned procedure following initial procedure). when this procedure is related to the first, and requires the use of an operating/procedure room, it may be reported by adding modifier 78 to the related procedure. (for repeat procedures, see modifier 76.)
79 Unrelated procedure or service by the same physician or other qualified health care professional during the postoperative period: the individual may need to indicate that the performance of a procedure or service during the postoperative period was unrelated to the original procedure. this circumstance may be reported by using modifier 79. (for repeat procedures on the same day, see modifier 76.)
80 Assistant surgeon: surgical assistant services may be identified by adding modifier 80 to the usual procedure number(s).
82 Assistant surgeon (when qualified resident surgeon not available): the unavailability of a qualified resident surgeon is a prerequisite for use of modifier 82 appended to the usual procedure code number(s).
CC Procedure code change (use 'cc' when the procedure code submitted was changed either for administrative reasons or because an incorrect code was filed)
CR Catastrophe/disaster related
GV Attending physician not employed or paid under arrangement by the patient's hospice provider
GW Service not related to the hospice patient's terminal condition
GY Item or service statutorily excluded, does not meet the definition of any medicare benefit or, for non-medicare insurers, is not a contract benefit
LT Left side (used to identify procedures performed on the left side of the body)
MG The order for this service does not have applicable appropriate use criteria in the qualified clinical decision support mechanism consulted by the ordering professional
Q6 Service furnished under a fee-for-time compensation arrangement by a substitute physician or by a substitute physical therapist furnishing outpatient physical therapy services in a health professional shortage area, a medically underserved area, or a rural area
RT Right side (used to identify procedures performed on the right side of the body)
SA Nurse practitioner rendering service in collaboration with a physician
SG Ambulatory surgical center (asc) facility service
X4 Episodic/focused services: for reporting services by clinicians who provide focused care on particular types of treatment limited to a defined period and circumstance; the patient has a problem, acute or chronic, that will be treated with surgery, radiation, or some other type of generally time-limited intervention; reporting clinician service examples include but are not limited to, the orthopedic surgeon performing a knee replacement and seeing the patient through the postoperative period
XS Separate structure, a service that is distinct because it was performed on a separate organ/structure
XU Unusual non-overlapping service, the use of a service that is distinct because it does not overlap usual components of the main service
Date
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2017-01-01 Changed Moderate (Conscious) Sedation flag removed. See new Moderate Sedation category.
2015-01-01 Added Added
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