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Official Description

Incision and drainage, shoulder area; infected bursa

© Copyright 2025 American Medical Association. All rights reserved.

Common Language Description

An incision and drainage procedure of the shoulder area, specifically for an infected bursa, involves the surgical intervention to remove infected fluid or pus from the bursal sac located in the shoulder region. The shoulder area encompasses the soft tissues overlying critical anatomical structures such as the clavicle, scapula, and the humeral head and neck. The procedure is initiated based on the precise location of the abscess or hematoma, which may be deep within the shoulder tissues. During the operation, the surgeon carefully dissects the soft tissues to access the infected area, where the abscess or hematoma is identified. The wall of the abscess is then incised to allow for the drainage of the accumulated pus or blood. In cases where a large abscess is present, additional probing may be necessary to break down loculations within the pus pocket, ensuring complete drainage of the infection. Following the drainage, the site is typically flushed with an antibiotic solution and/or normal saline to cleanse the area. Depending on the clinical judgment, the incision may be left open for continued drainage, packed with gauze to facilitate healing, or closed after thorough irrigation. This procedure is specifically coded as CPT® 23031, which denotes the incision and drainage of an infected bursa in the shoulder area.

© Copyright 2025 Coding Ahead. All rights reserved.

1. Indications

The procedure of incision and drainage of an infected bursa in the shoulder area is indicated for the following conditions:

  • Infected Bursa The primary indication for this procedure is the presence of an infected bursa, which may be characterized by swelling, pain, and signs of infection such as redness and warmth in the shoulder area.
  • Abscess Formation The procedure is also indicated when there is an accumulation of pus within the bursa, leading to the formation of an abscess that requires surgical intervention for drainage.
  • Hematoma In cases where a hematoma is present, particularly if it is deep and symptomatic, incision and drainage may be necessary to alleviate pressure and prevent further complications.

2. Procedure

The procedure for incision and drainage of an infected bursa in the shoulder area involves several critical steps:

  • Step 1: Anesthesia Administration The procedure begins with the administration of local or general anesthesia to ensure the patient is comfortable and pain-free during the intervention.
  • Step 2: Incision Once the area is anesthetized, the surgeon makes an incision over the site of the infected bursa. The incision is strategically placed based on the location of the abscess or hematoma to provide optimal access.
  • Step 3: Dissection The soft tissues overlying the bursa are carefully dissected to expose the abscess or hematoma. This step requires precision to avoid damaging surrounding structures.
  • Step 4: Drainage After locating the pocket of pus or blood, the wall of the abscess or hematoma is incised, allowing the fluid to drain out. This step is crucial for relieving pressure and addressing the infection.
  • Step 5: Probing (if necessary) In cases of large abscesses, probing may be performed to break down loculations within the pus pocket, ensuring that all infected material is adequately drained.
  • Step 6: Flushing Following drainage, the bursal sac is flushed with an antibiotic solution and/or normal saline to cleanse the area and reduce the risk of further infection.
  • Step 7: Closure Finally, the incision site may be left open to facilitate continued drainage, packed with gauze, or closed depending on the surgeon's assessment and the specific circumstances of the case.

3. Post-Procedure

Post-procedure care for patients who have undergone incision and drainage of an infected bursa in the shoulder area typically includes monitoring for signs of infection, managing pain, and ensuring proper wound care. Patients may be advised to keep the area clean and dry, and to follow specific instructions regarding dressing changes. Follow-up appointments may be necessary to assess healing and determine if further intervention is required. Additionally, patients should be educated on recognizing any signs of complications, such as increased redness, swelling, or discharge from the incision site, which would necessitate immediate medical attention.

Short Descr DRAIN SHOULDER BURSA
Medium Descr I&D SHOULDER INFECTED BURSA
Long Descr Incision and drainage, shoulder area; infected bursa
Status Code Active Code
Global Days 010 - Minor Procedure
PC/TC Indicator (26, TC) 0 - Physician Service Code
Multiple Procedures (51) 2 - Standard payment adjustment rules for multiple procedures apply.
Bilateral Surgery (50) 1 - 150% payment adjustment for bilateral procedures applies.
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 Hospital Part B services paid through a comprehensive APC
ASC Payment Indicator Surgical procedure on ASC list in CY 2007; payment based on OPPS relative payment weight.
Type of Service (TOS) 2 - Surgery
Berenson-Eggers TOS (BETOS) P6B - Minor procedures - musculoskeletal
MUE 1
CCS Clinical Classification 162 - Other OR therapeutic procedures on joints

This is a primary code that can be used with these additional add-on codes.

20700 Add-on Code MPFS Status: Active Code APC N ASC N1 Manual preparation and insertion of drug-delivery device(s), deep (eg, subfascial) (List separately in addition to code for primary procedure)
51 Multiple procedures: when multiple procedures, other than e/m services, physical medicine and rehabilitation services or provision of supplies (eg, vaccines), are performed at the same session by the same individual, the primary procedure or service may be reported as listed. the additional procedure(s) or service(s) may be identified by appending modifier 51 to the additional procedure or service code(s). note: this modifier should not be appended to designated "add-on" codes (see appendix d).
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.
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.
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).
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
LT Left side (used to identify procedures performed on the left side of the body)
RT Right side (used to identify procedures performed on the right side of the body)
XP Separate practitioner, a service that is distinct because it was performed by a different practitioner
XU Unusual non-overlapping service, the use of a service that is distinct because it does not overlap usual components of the main service
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