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Official Description

Revision including replacement, when performed, of spinal neurostimulator electrode plate/paddle(s) placed via laminotomy or laminectomy, including fluoroscopy, when performed

© Copyright 2025 American Medical Association. All rights reserved.

Common Language Description

The procedure described by CPT® Code 63664 involves the revision and potential replacement of a spinal neurostimulator electrode plate or paddle that has been previously implanted via a laminotomy or laminectomy. This procedure is specifically designed for patients experiencing chronic back and/or leg pain, where an implantable spinal cord stimulation system is utilized to alleviate discomfort. The mechanism of action involves the electrical stimulation of the spinal cord, which activates pain-inhibiting neurons and induces a tingling sensation that effectively masks pain sensations. The revision process may include repositioning the existing electrode plate or paddle to optimize pain control or replacing it entirely if necessary. The procedure is performed under fluoroscopic guidance, which allows for precise visualization of the spinal structures during the operation. An incision of 2 to 5 inches is made over the spine to access the electrode plate or paddle, and the surrounding soft tissue is carefully dissected to expose the device. The ultimate goal of this procedure is to ensure that the neurostimulator is correctly placed and functioning effectively, thereby enhancing the patient's quality of life by managing their chronic pain more effectively.

© Copyright 2025 Coding Ahead. All rights reserved.

1. Indications

The procedure described by CPT® Code 63664 is indicated for patients who require revision or replacement of a spinal neurostimulator electrode plate or paddle due to inadequate pain control, device malfunction, or anatomical changes that necessitate repositioning. The following conditions may warrant this procedure:

  • Chronic Back Pain Patients suffering from persistent back pain that has not responded adequately to conservative treatments may benefit from spinal cord stimulation.
  • Chronic Leg Pain Individuals experiencing ongoing leg pain, often associated with conditions such as neuropathy or radiculopathy, may require revision of their neurostimulator to improve pain management.
  • Device Malfunction If the existing electrode plate or paddle is malfunctioning or not providing the intended therapeutic effect, revision or replacement may be necessary.
  • Anatomical Changes Changes in the patient's anatomy, such as spinal deformities or post-surgical alterations, may necessitate repositioning of the electrode plate or paddle for optimal efficacy.

2. Procedure

The procedure for CPT® Code 63664 involves several critical steps to ensure the successful revision or replacement of the spinal neurostimulator electrode plate or paddle:

  • Step 1: Incision An incision measuring between 2 and 5 inches is made over the spine to provide access to the implanted electrode plate or paddle. This incision allows the surgeon to reach the underlying structures while minimizing damage to surrounding tissues.
  • Step 2: Dissection The overlying soft tissue is carefully dissected to expose the electrode plate or paddle. This step is crucial for ensuring that the device is adequately visualized and accessible for revision or replacement.
  • Step 3: Revision or Replacement Once the electrode plate or paddle is exposed, the surgeon assesses whether it needs to be repositioned or replaced. If revision is required, the device is carefully repositioned within the epidural space and secured to the spine. If replacement is necessary, the existing plate or paddle is removed in a separately reportable procedure.
  • Step 4: Placement of New Device A new electrode plate or paddle is then placed in the epidural space and secured to the spine. This step is essential for ensuring that the new device is correctly positioned to provide effective pain relief.
  • Step 5: Testing and Connection After the new or revised electrode plate or paddle is in place, the patient is awakened, and the device is tested to confirm proper placement and functionality. The leads are then tunneled to the pulse generator/receiver pocket, where they are connected to the generator/receiver, completing the procedure.

3. Post-Procedure

Post-procedure care for patients undergoing CPT® Code 63664 includes monitoring for any immediate complications related to the surgical site, such as infection or excessive bleeding. Patients are typically observed for their response to the revised or new electrode plate or paddle, ensuring that the device is functioning correctly and providing the intended pain relief. Follow-up appointments are essential to assess the effectiveness of the spinal cord stimulation and to make any necessary adjustments to the programming of the neurostimulator. Patients may also receive instructions regarding activity restrictions and pain management strategies during their recovery period.

Short Descr REVISE SPINE ELTRD PLATE
Medium Descr REVJ INCL RPLCMT NSTIM ELTRD PLT/PDLE INCL FLUOR
Long Descr Revision including replacement, when performed, of spinal neurostimulator electrode plate/paddle(s) placed via laminotomy or laminectomy, including fluoroscopy, when performed
Status Code Active Code
Global Days 090 - Major Surgery
PC/TC Indicator (26, TC) 0 - Physician Service Code
Multiple Procedures (51) 2 - Standard 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) 1 - Co-surgeons could be paid, though supporting documentation is required...
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 Device-intensive procedure added to ASC list in CY 2008 or later; paid at adjusted rate.
Type of Service (TOS) 2 - Surgery
Berenson-Eggers TOS (BETOS) P3D - Major procedure, orthopedic - other
MUE 1
CCS Clinical Classification 5 - Insertion of catheter or spinal stimulator and injection into spinal canal
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).
52 Reduced services: under certain circumstances a service or procedure is partially reduced or eliminated at the discretion of the physician or other qualified health care professional. under these circumstances the service provided can be identified by its usual procedure number and the addition of modifier 52, signifying that the service is reduced. this provides a means of reporting reduced services without disturbing the identification of the basic service. note: for hospital outpatient 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).
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).
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.
74 Discontinued out-patient hospital/ambulatory surgery center (asc) procedure after administration of anesthesia: due to extenuating circumstances or those that threaten the well being of the patient, the physician may terminate a surgical or diagnostic procedure after the administration of anesthesia (local, regional block(s), general) or after the procedure was started (incision made, intubation started, scope inserted, etc). under these circumstances, the procedure started but terminated can be reported by its usual procedure number and the addition of modifier 74. note: the elective cancellation of a service prior to the administration of anesthesia and/or surgical preparation of the patient should not be reported. for physician reporting of a discontinued procedure, see modifier 53.
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
RT Right side (used to identify procedures performed on the right side of the body)
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
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2010-01-01 Added -
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