2025 CPT code 29887
(Active) Effective Date: N/A Revision Date: N/A Surgery - Endoscopy/Arthroscopy Procedures on the Musculoskeletal System Surgical Procedures on the Musculoskeletal System Feed
Arthroscopy, knee, surgical; drilling for intact osteochondritis dissecans lesion with internal fixation.
Modifiers may be appended to indicate laterality (RT, LT), multiple procedures (51), or other relevant circumstances. Consult current modifier guidelines for appropriate application.
Medical necessity for 29887 is established when conservative treatment (physical therapy, medication) fails to alleviate symptoms and imaging studies confirm an intact osteochondritis dissecans lesion causing significant pain and functional impairment. The procedure is deemed medically necessary to address the underlying pathology and improve joint function.
The orthopedic surgeon or qualified healthcare professional is responsible for performing the arthroscopy, identifying the lesion, performing the drilling, inserting the screws for fixation, and ensuring proper wound closure.Pre-operative and post-operative care may be billed separately.
- Surgical Procedures on the Musculoskeletal System
- Musculoskeletal System > Endoscopy/Arthroscopy Procedures
In simple words: The doctor uses a tiny camera (arthroscope) to look inside the knee joint.If there's damaged cartilage (a condition called osteochondritis dissecans), they'll make small holes in it to help it heal and use screws to hold it in place. This helps reduce pain and improve knee movement.
This CPT code encompasses a surgical knee arthroscopy involving the identification of intact osteochondritis dissecans lesions (cartilage cracked but not separated from the bone).The procedure includes drilling the damaged cartilage to stimulate healthy tissue growth and internal fixation using screws to secure the cartilage to the underlying bone.The procedure aims to alleviate pain and improve joint mobility.
Example 1: A 25-year-old athlete presents with persistent knee pain and instability.Arthroscopy reveals an intact osteochondritis dissecans lesion in the medial femoral condyle. The surgeon performs drilling and internal fixation with screws. , A 40-year-old patient with a history of knee injury undergoes arthroscopy for persistent pain.An intact osteochondritis dissecans lesion is found in the lateral femoral condyle, and the surgeon performs drilling and fixation using two screws., A 17-year-old patient presents after a sports injury. Arthroscopy reveals multiple small, intact osteochondritis dissecans lesions in the patella. The surgeon performs drilling on each lesion and secures one of them with a screw, while the others are managed with drilling alone.
* Preoperative diagnosis (including imaging studies like MRI).* Intraoperative findings detailing the size, location, and number of lesions.* Description of surgical technique (drilling, fixation method, screw size and placement).* Postoperative plan (including physical therapy, follow-up appointments).* Operative report with detailed description of procedure performed, images taken (if applicable).
** This code should only be used for intact osteochondritis dissecans lesions.If the lesion is detached, a different code is necessary.Careful documentation is critical for accurate coding and reimbursement.
- Payment Status: Active
- Modifier TC rule: Not applicable.
- Specialties:Orthopedic Surgery
- Place of Service:Ambulatory Surgical Center, Hospital Outpatient Department