2025 CPT code 22102
(Active) Effective Date: N/A Revision Date: N/A Surgery - Excision Procedures on the Spine (Vertebral Column) Musculoskeletal System Feed
Partial excision of a posterior lumbar vertebral component (e.g., spinous process, lamina, or facet) for an intrinsic bony lesion, single vertebral segment.
Modifiers 51 (multiple procedures), 62 (two surgeons), and 76 (repeat procedure) may be applicable under specific circumstances.Consult the CPT manual for detailed explanations of these modifiers and their proper use.
The medical necessity for this procedure would be established by the presence of a symptomatic bony lesion of the lumbar vertebra that is causing pain, neurological compromise (e.g., nerve root compression), or instability. The lesion needs to be clearly documented in the medical record, justifying the need for surgical excision.
The surgeon's responsibilities include surgical exposure and dissection of the affected vertebral bone, precise excision of the diseased bone using appropriate surgical techniques, hemostasis, irrigation, and layered wound closure. Pre-operative and post-operative care and consultation may also be included in the physician's responsibilities.
In simple words: The doctor removes a small part of the back of a bone in your lower spine to treat a problem within the bone itself. This involves a cut over the area, removing the damaged part of the bone, and then closing the cut.
This CPT code describes the surgical procedure involving the partial excision of a posterior component of a single lumbar vertebra (one of the bones in the lower back).The specific posterior component removed might include the spinous process, lamina, or facet, and the excision is performed to address an intrinsic bony lesion (a diseased area within the bone itself). The procedure involves making an incision over the affected bone, dissecting down to the bone's surface, stripping muscles from the spinous process and lamina, excising the diseased bone using surgical instruments, irrigating the wound, and closing the incision in layers.Appreciable vessel exploration and/or neuroplasty should be reported separately, as should extensive undermining or complex repair techniques needed to close a defect created by skin excision.
Example 1: A 55-year-old patient presents with a painful, symptomatic osteoid osteoma of the L4 spinous process.The surgeon performs a partial excision of the L4 spinous process to remove the lesion.Code 22102 is reported., A 60-year-old patient with a history of spinal stenosis undergoes a laminectomy with partial facetectomy at L3-L4 for neural compression.During the procedure, a portion of the lamina and facet joint is removed to alleviate pressure on the nerves.Code 22102 is reported for the partial facetectomy component, along with the appropriate laminectomy code. , A 70-year-old patient presents with a painful, non-union fracture of the L5 lamina.The surgeon performs an open reduction and internal fixation with removal of a portion of the non-unioned fracture fragment, partially resecting the L5 lamina.Code 22102 is reported for the partial excision of the lamina, along with the appropriate fracture care and fixation codes.
* Preoperative diagnosis and imaging studies (e.g., X-rays, CT scans, MRI) clearly demonstrating the location and extent of the bony lesion.* Operative report detailing the surgical approach, specific bone structures removed (e.g., spinous process, lamina, facet), extent of bone removed, any complications encountered, and closure method.* Anesthesia records.* Pathology report (if applicable).* Postoperative notes including any complications, pain management, and physical therapy information.
** Code 22102 should only be reported for removal of a posterior component (spinous process, lamina, or facet).If the entire vertebral body is removed, a different code should be used.Accurate reporting requires detailed documentation and careful consideration of relevant modifiers and NCCI edits.Always verify payer-specific guidelines before submitting claims.
- Revenue Code: P3D (Major Procedure, Orthopedic - Other)
- RVU: The relative value units (RVUs) for this code vary depending on geographic location, facility type, and other factors. Consult a current relative value unit database for specific values.These values are used to calculate Medicare payments and can serve as a basis for negotiations with private payers.
- Global Days: The global surgical period for this code is not explicitly defined in the provided sources.The global period would generally encompass the post-operative care period for this type of procedure, but this period can vary by payer.
- Payment Status: Active
- Modifier TC rule: A Technical Component (TC) modifier does not typically apply to this code as it represents a surgical procedure performed by the physician.
- Fee Schedule: Historical fee schedule data for this code is not available.Use a reliable fee schedule database for current payment rates.
- Specialties:Orthopedic Surgery, Neurosurgery
- Place of Service:Inpatient Hospital, Outpatient Hospital, Ambulatory Surgical Center