In: Anatomy and Physiology
Assign appropriate CPT and ICD-10-CM codes and modifiers
3. PREOPERATIVE DIAGNOSIS: Left tibial tubercle
avulsion fracture.
POSTOPERATIVE DIAGNOSIS: Comminuted left distal
end of the tibia
PROCEDURE: Open reduction and internal fixation of
left tibia.
ANESTHESIA: General. The patient received 10 ml of
0.5% Marcaine local anesthetic.
TOURNIQUET TIME: 80 minutes.
ESTIMATED BLOOD LOSS: Minimal.
DRAINS: One JP drain was placed.
COMPLICATIONS: No intraoperative complications or
specimens. Hardware consisted of two 4-5 K-wires, One 6.5, 60 mm
partially threaded cancellous screw and one 45, 60 mm partially
threaded cortical screw and 2 washers.
HISTORY AND PHYSICAL: The patient is a 14-year-old
male who reported having knee pain for 1 month. Apparently while he
was playing basketball on 12/22/2007 when he had gone up for a
jump, he felt a pop in his knee. The patient was seen at an outside
facility where he was splinted and subsequently referred to
Children's for definitive care. Radiographs confirmed comminuted
tibial tubercle avulsion fracture with patella alta. Surgery is
recommended to the grandmother and subsequently to the father by
phone. Surgery would consist of open reduction and internal
fixation with subsequent need for later hardware removal. Risks of
surgery include the risks of anesthesia, infection, bleeding,
changes on sensation in most of the extremity, hardware failure,
need for later hardware removal, failure to restore extensor
mechanism tension, and need for postoperative rehab. All questions
were answered, and father and grandmother agreed to the above
plan.
PROCEDURE: The patient was taken to the operating
and placed supine on the operating table. General anesthesia was
then administered. The patient was given Ancef preoperatively. A
nonsterile tourniquet was placed on the upper aspect of the
patient's left thigh. The patient's extremity was then prepped and
draped in the standard surgical fashion. Midline incision was
marked on the skin extending from the tibial tubercle proximally
and extremities wrapped in Esmarch. Finally, the patient had
tourniquet that turned in 75 mmHg. Esmarch was then removed. The
incision was then made. The patient had significant tearing of the
posterior retinaculum medially with proximal migration of the
tibial tubercle which was located in the joint there was a
significant comminution and intraarticular involvement. We were
able to see the underside of the anterior horn of both medial and
lateral meniscus. The intraarticular cartilage was restored using
two 45 K-wires. Final position was checked via fluoroscopy and the
corners were buried in the cartilage. There was a large free
floating metaphyseal piece that included parts of proximal tibial
physis. This was placed back in an anatomic location and fixed
using a 45 cortical screw with a washer. The avulsed fragment with
the patellar tendon was then fixed distally to this area using a
6.5, 60 mm cancellous screw with a washer. The cortical screw did
not provide good compression and fixation at this distal fragment.
Retinaculum was repaired using 0 Vicryl suture as best as possible.
The hematoma was evacuated at the beginning of the case as well as
the end. The knee was copiously irrigated with normal saline. The
subcutaneous tissue was re-approximated using 2-0 Vicryl and the
skin with 4-0 Monocryl. The wound was cleaned, dried, and dressed
with Steri-Strips, Xeroform, and 4 x4s. Tourniquet was released at
80 minutes. JP drain was placed on the medium gutter. The extremity
was then wrapped in Ace wrap from the proximal thigh down to the
toes. The patient was then placed in a knee mobilizer. The patient
tolerated the procedure well. Subsequently extubated and taken to
the recovery in stable condition.
POSTOP PLAN: The patient hospitalized overnight to
decrease swelling and as well as manage his pain. He may weightbear
as tolerated using knee mobilizer. Postoperative findings relayed
to the grandmother. The patient will need subsequent hardware
removal. The patient also was given local anesthetic at the end of
the case.
For Coding DX
Appropriate DX would be - S82.302A ( Unspecified Fracture of Lower end of Left Tibia, initial encounter for closed Fracture)
For Coding CPT
Procedure performed is Open Reduction and Internal fixation of Left Tibia
Appropriate CPT would be - 27827 (Open treatment of fracture of weight bearing articular surface/portion of distal tibia (eg, pilon or tibial plafond), with internal fixation, when performed; of tibia only)
Modifier - LT
Reporting of the Code for this Surgery
27827 - LT linked to DX S82.302A