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Vertebral corpectomy is a surgical procedure that involves the resection or removal of a vertebral body, which is the main part of a vertebra, along with the intervertebral discs located above and below the affected vertebra. This procedure is typically indicated for patients suffering from severe spinal stenosis, which is a narrowing of the spinal canal that can lead to compression of the spinal cord or nerve roots. Conditions such as bone spurs, fractures, tumors, or infections affecting the spine may also necessitate this intervention. The surgery is performed on the lower thoracic, lumbar, or sacral regions of the spine and can be approached either through the abdomen (transperitoneal) or from the side (retroperitoneal). In many cases, a collaborative surgical approach is employed, where a general surgeon may handle the initial exposure of the surgical site, while a spine surgeon performs the corpectomy itself. The procedure requires careful dissection to protect vital structures and involves the removal of not only the vertebral body but also any surrounding diseased tissue, including bone spurs and ligaments that may be compressing the spinal cord or nerve roots. Following the excision, additional procedures such as bone grafting and internal fixation may be performed to stabilize the spine and promote healing.
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The vertebral corpectomy procedure is indicated for the following conditions:
The vertebral corpectomy procedure involves several critical steps, which are detailed as follows:
After the vertebral corpectomy, patients typically require close monitoring for any complications. Post-operative care may include pain management, physical therapy, and follow-up imaging studies to assess the healing process. Patients are advised to avoid strenuous activities and follow specific rehabilitation protocols to ensure proper recovery. The expected recovery time may vary depending on the extent of the surgery and the individual patient's health status. It is essential for patients to adhere to their surgeon's post-operative instructions to facilitate optimal healing and minimize the risk of complications.
| Short Descr | REMOVE VERTEBRAL BODY ADD-ON | Medium Descr | VCRPEC TRANSPRTL/RPR DCMPRN THRC LMBR/SAC EA SEG | Long Descr | Vertebral corpectomy (vertebral body resection), partial or complete, transperitoneal or retroperitoneal approach with decompression of spinal cord, cauda equina or nerve root(s), lower thoracic, lumbar, or sacral; each additional segment (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) | 2 - Payment restriction for assistants at surgery does not apply to this procedure... | Co-Surgeons (62) | 2 - Co-surgeons permitted and no documentation required if the two- specialty requirement is met. | Team Surgery (66) | 2 - Team surgeons permitted; pay by report. | Diagnostic Imaging Family | 99 - Concept Does Not Apply | APC Status Indicator | Inpatient Procedures, not paid under OPPS | Type of Service (TOS) | 2 - Surgery | Berenson-Eggers TOS (BETOS) | P1F - Major procedure - explor/decompr/excis disc | MUE | 3 | CCS Clinical Classification | 3 - Laminectomy, excision intervertebral disc |
This is an add-on code that must be used in conjunction with one of these primary codes.
| 63090 | MPFS Status: Active Code APC C Physician Quality Reporting CPT Assistant Article Vertebral corpectomy (vertebral body resection), partial or complete, transperitoneal or retroperitoneal approach with decompression of spinal cord, cauda equina or nerve root(s), lower thoracic, lumbar, or sacral; single segment | 69990 | Addon Code MPFS Status: Restricted APC N ASC N1 PUB 100 CPT Assistant Article 1Microsurgical techniques, requiring use of operating microscope (List separately in addition to code for primary procedure) |
| AS | Physician assistant, nurse practitioner, or clinical nurse specialist services for assistant at surgery | 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. | 62 | Two surgeons: when 2 surgeons work together as primary surgeons performing distinct part(s) of a procedure, each surgeon should report his/her distinct operative work by adding modifier 62 to the procedure code and any associated add-on code(s) for that procedure as long as both surgeons continue to work together as primary surgeons. each surgeon should report the co-surgery once using the same procedure code. if additional procedure(s) (including add-on procedure(s) are performed during the same surgical session, separate code(s) may also be reported with modifier 62 added. note: if a co-surgeon acts as an assistant in the performance of additional procedure(s), other than those reported with the modifier 62, during the same surgical session, those services may be reported using separate procedure code(s) with modifier 80 or modifier 82 added, as appropriate. | 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). | GC | This service has been performed in part by a resident under the direction of a teaching physician |
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| 2017-01-01 | Changed | Guidelines changed. |
| Pre-1990 | Added | Code added. |
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