CPT Code 29880 | Description, Procedure & Billing Guidelines (2022)
Report CPT code 29880 for arthroscopic examination of the knee joint, including removing damaged meniscus and meniscal shaving.
1. What Is CPT Code 29880?
CPT 29880 covers an arthroscopic examination of the knee joint of the patient. Torn or damaged meniscus is removed from knee joint compartments, and meniscal shaving is applied.
Chondroplasty (debridement or shaving of damaged articular cartilage) is applied in a separate or the same compartment.
Arthroscopy (also known as keyhole surgery) involves an arthroscope (a tiny camera) to look inside the patient’s joint to treat joint problems.
2. Description
The CPT book describes CPT code 29880 as: “Arthroscopy, knee, surgical; with meniscectomy (medial AND lateral, including any meniscal shaving) including debridement/shaving of articular cartilage (chondroplasty), same or separate compartment(s), when performed.”
3. Procedure
The 29880 CPT code procedure begins with two or three incisions of both sides of the knee joint’s patellar tendon after the patient is anesthetized and prepped.
Next, they insert a small camera (pen-sized) into one of the incisions to inspect the knee joint. The second incision (portal) is used for surgical instrument (s). The third portal might be used to administer fluid, providing a better view of the joint.
Then, they examine the patient’s knee joint with the camera (arthroscopy) and check the meniscus’s integrity. They continue the procedure with scissors or a motorized cutter to remove torn meniscal fragments from lateral and medial compartments.
They then shave the remaining menisci and examine the articular cartilage in separate or the same compartments. They then perform chondroplasty of debriding damaged portions as well.
Finally, they finish this procedure by removing all the instruments from the incisions before they close the wounds.
4. How To Use CPT Code 29880
Use CPT 29881 instead of CPT 29880 if the provider performed arthroscopic meniscectomy in the lateral or medial compartment of the patient’s knee with debridement of articular cartilage in separate the same compartments.
5. Resources
The Orthopedic Educator: A Pocket Guide
https://www.aapc.com/blog/51405-coding-knee-arthroscopy-with-precision/
