In simple words: This procedure involves removing a metal device, either tongs or a halo, that was placed on your head by a different doctor to stabilize your head and neck. This is done when the bones have healed enough that the device is no longer needed.

This code describes the removal of tongs or a halo device from the cranium, when originally applied by a different healthcare provider.These devices are used to immobilize and stabilize the head and neck, typically after injury or surgery.

Example 1: A patient was involved in a motor vehicle accident and sustained a cervical fracture. A halo was applied by the emergency department physician. After several weeks of immobilization, the patient is seen by an orthopedic surgeon who determines the bones have healed enough to remove the halo.The orthopedic surgeon would bill 20665 for the removal., A patient with scoliosis underwent spinal fusion surgery.Tongs were placed by the operating surgeon for intraoperative traction. The patient is now ready to be discharged, and a different physician, covering for the surgeon, will remove the tongs. The covering physician reports 20665., A patient's halo pins became infected and required removal and replacement. The original halo was placed by a different provider. The current physician will remove the infected halo, treat the pin sites, and reapply a new halo. The removal of the infected halo would be billed separately as 20665 while application of the new halo would be billed with 20661.

Documentation should include the type of device removed (tongs or halo), the date the device was originally applied, the condition necessitating the device, confirmation that the device was applied by another provider, and the reason for removal.

** If significant additional procedures are performed during the removal, such as wound debridement or complex closure, these services may be coded separately.