2025 CPT code 24136

Surgical removal of a necrotic portion of bone from the radial head or neck, typically due to osteomyelitis or bone abscess.

Follow current CPT coding guidelines for surgical procedures and the specific instructions related to sequestrectomies.

Modifiers may be appropriate depending on the circumstances of the procedure (e.g., 51 for multiple procedures, 76 for a repeat procedure by the same physician). Refer to CPT guidelines for modifier usage.

Medical necessity for a sequestrectomy is established by the presence of necrotic bone within the radial head or neck causing symptoms or complications (e.g., pain, infection, limited mobility). Imaging studies (x-rays, CT scans) are typically used to confirm the diagnosis.

The orthopedic surgeon or qualified healthcare professional is responsible for performing the sequestrectomy, which includes incision, access to the infected bone, removal of necrotic bone, wound irrigation, hemostasis, and wound closure.

IMPORTANT Similar codes exist for sequestrectomies in other bone locations (e.g., clavicle, humeral head, scapula).Selection depends on the specific bone involved.

In simple words: This surgery removes a piece of dead bone from the radial head or neck (part of the forearm) that's infected. The doctor makes a cut, cleans out the dead bone, and closes the wound.

Sequestrectomy of the radial head or neck involves a surgical procedure to remove necrotic (dead) bone tissue from the specified area. This is often necessary in cases of osteomyelitis (bone infection) or bone abscess.The procedure includes an incision over the infected area, access to the necrotic bone, removal of the infected tissue, possible filling of the void with surrounding tissue, irrigation with an antibiotic solution, hemostasis (control of bleeding), and layered wound closure.

Example 1: A 55-year-old male presents with chronic osteomyelitis in the radial head, confirmed by imaging. A sequestrectomy is performed to remove the dead bone fragments and address the infection., A 28-year-old female sustains an open fracture of the radial neck with subsequent osteomyelitis.Sequestrectomy is performed as part of a more extensive surgical procedure to manage the fracture and infection., A 72-year-old male experiences a post-traumatic bone abscess in the radial head.A sequestrectomy is performed to remove the necrotic bone, followed by irrigation and debridement.

Operative report detailing the procedure, including the location of the sequestrectomy (radial head or neck), the amount of bone removed, irrigation techniques, and pathology report confirming the presence of necrotic bone and infection (if applicable).

** The description of this procedure indicates that debridement and irrigation are inherent to the sequestrectomy and are typically not reported separately.However, if substantial additional debridement is performed beyond what is considered inherent to the procedure, additional codes may need to be considered. Always refer to the operative report and current CPT coding guidelines for clarification.

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