Resolved Arthroscopy ankle - Ligament repair

[ErnaV_2250]

Hi CCO team.

Please can we ask advice on the ARTHROSCOPIC procedural coding for a repair of a primary disrupted collateral ligament of the ankle. The only code we find is open:
27695 Repair, primary, disrupted ligament, ankle, collateral

Thanks
Erna

 

[Darcy]

For an arthroscopic repair of a primary disrupted collateral ligament of the ankle, the appropriate CPT code is 27695. This code specifically describes the repair of a single disrupted collateral ligament at the ankle joint, performed to restore stability and function.

Explanation:

• 27695 - Repair, primary, disrupted ligament, ankle; collateral. This code is used for the repair of a single collateral ligament (either medial or lateral).
  

Key points to consider:

• Primary vs. Secondary: 27695 is for primary repair, meaning the ligament is repaired directly after injury, unlike secondary repairs (27698) which involve reconstruction with grafts or other procedures.
  
  
• Arthroscopic Approach: While 27695 doesn't explicitly mention arthroscopy, it's a common and preferred approach for repairing these types of ligament tears.
  
• Specificity: The code is specific to the collateral ligaments at the ankle.
  

In summary, if the procedure is an arthroscopic repair of a single, primary disrupted collateral ligament in the ankle, 27695 is the appropriate code