© Copyright 2025 American Medical Association. All rights reserved.
A surgical arthroscopy of the knee, identified by CPT® Code 29882, involves a minimally invasive procedure where the knee joint is examined and treated through small incisions. This procedure specifically includes the repair of the meniscus, which is a C-shaped cartilage in the knee that acts as a cushion between the femur (thigh bone) and the tibia (shin bone). The meniscus can sustain tears, particularly in its outer vascular region, where there is sufficient blood supply to facilitate healing. During the arthroscopy, portal incisions are made on both the medial (inner) and lateral (outer) sides of the knee joint to allow access for the arthroscope and other surgical instruments. The arthroscope, a specialized camera, is inserted through one of these portals to visualize the interior of the knee joint. A cannula is then introduced through a second portal to enable the flushing of the joint with saline solution, which helps to clear debris and provides a clearer view of the joint structures. The surgeon examines the knee for any signs of disease, injury, or infection, and locates the meniscus tear. The extent of the tear is assessed using a small hook. Preparation of the tear edges is performed with a rasp or motorized shaver, and the blood supply to the area is evaluated to determine the best approach for repair. Various techniques may be employed to enhance healing, such as placing a blood clot between the tear edges, creating vascular access channels, or abrading the joint lining to stimulate bleeding. The actual repair of the meniscus is accomplished using sutures, absorbable tacks, or other internal fixation devices. After the repair, the knee is flushed again to remove any remaining debris, and the joint is re-inspected. If there are tears in both the medial and lateral menisci, the procedure will address the second tear in a similar manner. Finally, the instruments are removed, the portal incisions are closed, and a compressive dressing is applied to support the knee post-surgery.
© Copyright 2025 Coding Ahead. All rights reserved.
The procedure described by CPT® Code 29882 is indicated for patients presenting with specific conditions related to the meniscus of the knee. These indications include:
The procedure for CPT® Code 29882 involves several critical steps to ensure effective meniscus repair:
After the completion of the arthroscopy and meniscus repair, patients can expect specific post-procedure care and considerations. The knee will typically be wrapped with a compressive dressing to minimize swelling and support the healing process. Patients may be advised to rest and elevate the knee to reduce discomfort and swelling. Physical therapy may be recommended to restore range of motion and strength in the knee. Follow-up appointments will be necessary to monitor the healing process and assess the success of the repair. Patients should be informed about signs of complications, such as increased pain, swelling, or signs of infection, and instructed to contact their healthcare provider if these occur.
| Short Descr | KNEE ARTHROSCOPY/SURGERY | Medium Descr | ARTHROSCOPY KNEE W/MENISCUS RPR MEDIAL/LATERAL | Long Descr | Arthroscopy, knee, surgical; with meniscus repair (medial OR lateral) | Status Code | Active Code | Global Days | 090 - Major Surgery | PC/TC Indicator (26, TC) | 0 - Physician Service Code | Multiple Procedures (51) | 3 - Special payment adjustment rules for multiple endoscopic 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. | Endoscopic Base Code | 29870 Arthroscopy, knee, diagnostic, with or without synovial biopsy (separate 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) | P8A - Endoscopy - arthroscopy | MUE | 1 | CCS Clinical Classification | 151 - Excision of semilunar cartilage of knee |
This is a primary code that can be used with these additional add-on codes.
| G0289 | Add-on Code Medicare Coverage: Carrier Priced MPFS Status: Active Code APC N Arthroscopy, knee, surgical, for removal of loose body, foreign body, debridement/shaving of articular cartilage (chondroplasty) at the time of other surgical knee arthroscopy in a different compartment of the same knee |
| 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) | 80 | Assistant surgeon: surgical assistant services may be identified by adding modifier 80 to the usual procedure number(s). | AS | Physician assistant, nurse practitioner, or clinical nurse specialist services for assistant at surgery | 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. | 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). | 53 | Discontinued procedure: under certain circumstances, the physician or other qualified health care professional may elect to terminate a surgical or diagnostic procedure. due to extenuating circumstances or those that threaten the well being of the patient, it may be necessary to indicate that a surgical or diagnostic procedure was started but discontinued. this circumstance may be reported by adding modifier 53 to the code reported by the individual for the discontinued procedure. note: this modifier is not used to report the elective cancellation of a procedure prior to the patient's anesthesia induction and/or surgical preparation in the operating suite. for outpatient hospital/ambulatory surgery center (asc) reporting of a previously scheduled procedure/service that is partially reduced or cancelled as a result of extenuating circumstances or those that threaten the well being of the patient prior to or after administration of anesthesia, see modifiers 73 and 74 (see modifiers approved for asc hospital outpatient use). | 56 | Preoperative management only: when 1 physician or other qualified health care professional performed the preoperative care and evaluation and another performed the surgical procedure, the preoperative component may be identified by adding modifier 56 to the usual procedure number. | 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.) | 81 | Minimum assistant surgeon: minimum surgical assistant services are identified by adding modifier 81 to the usual procedure number. | 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). | AQ | Physician providing a service in an unlisted health professional shortage area (hpsa) | 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 | 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 | SG | Ambulatory surgical center (asc) facility service | 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
|
Action
|
Notes
|
|---|---|---|
| Pre-1990 | Added | Code added. |
Get instant expert-level medical coding assistance.