Coding for Spine Procedures that Cross Spinal Junctions

Question:

How do you report a spinal procedure for example, arthrodesis or laminectomies when two spinal are involved. For example., both thoracic and lumbar spine?

Answer:

Report one stand-alone/primary code even when the procedure crosses spine junctional levels. Use the stand-alone code for the spine region where the majority of the procedure/levels is performed.

• Example:T11-S1 posterolateral arthrodesis (T11-T12, T12-L1, L1-L2, L2-L3, L3-L4, L4-L5, L5-S1)
  Use 22612 (the lumbar stand-alone code, since more level were lumbar) and +22614 x 6

*This response is based on the best information available as of 08/11/22.