2025 CPT code 20912
Effective Date: N/A Surgery - Musculoskeletal System Feed
Cartilage graft; nasal septum.
Modifier 51 may be applicable when multiple procedures are performed.
The medical necessity for the cartilage graft should be documented, including the reason for the graft and the condition being treated.
The physician prepares the patient, makes the incision, harvests the graft, and closes the donor site.
In simple words: This procedure involves taking cartilage from your nasal septum (the wall between your nostrils) to use as a graft. The graft can be used to repair cartilage or bone defects in other areas of your body.
Harvesting of cartilage graft from nasal septum. This code is used for obtaining a cartilage graft from the nasal septum. It involves making an incision, dissecting the skin, and extracting the cartilage using a bone shaver or rongeur. The graft can then be used to fill bone and cartilage defects in other locations.
Example 1: A patient with a temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorder requires a cartilage graft to repair the damaged joint. The surgeon harvests cartilage from the patient's nasal septum using code 20912., A patient undergoing revision rhinoplasty needs a cartilage graft to reconstruct the nose. The surgeon obtains the graft from the nasal septum using code 20912. , A patient requires reconstruction of the larynx following a hemilaryngectomy. The surgeon harvests a cartilage graft from the nasal septum using code 20912.
Documentation should include the location of the donor site (nasal septum), the size of the graft, and the recipient site.If the graft is used as part of a larger procedure, this should also be documented.
** The use of a bone shaver or rongeur is included in the code and should not be reported separately.
- Specialties:Plastic Surgery, Otolaryngology, Orthopedic Surgery, Maxillofacial Surgery
- Place of Service:Ambulatory Surgical Center, Hospital, Physician's Office