ICD-10-PCS Billable Code

0SB93ZZ

Excision Hip Joint, Right to No Qualifier with No Device, Percutaneous Approach

Procedural Specifications

Clinical Axis Detail Definition
Section0 Medical and Surgical
Body SystemS Lower Joints
OperationB Excision
Body Part9 Hip Joint, Right
Approach3 Percutaneous
DeviceZ No Device
QualifierZ No Qualifier

Operation Definition

Cutting out or off, without replacement, a portion of a body part

Procedure Overview

This family describes cutting away a portion of a lower joint's tissue - synovium, labrum, meniscus remnants, or other intra-articular structures - without replacing what is removed. Partial meniscectomy in the knee, synovial biopsy for diagnosing arthritis, and trimming of frayed labral tissue in the hip are typical examples. The intent is to remove only the diseased, torn, or excess portion while leaving the rest of the joint intact and functional.

These procedures are performed both to relieve mechanical symptoms, such as a torn meniscus catching or locking the knee, and to obtain tissue samples that help diagnose conditions like rheumatoid arthritis or gout. Many are done arthroscopically through small portals, though open excision is still used for larger or harder-to-reach lesions.

Because only part of the structure is taken, the joint typically retains its normal range of motion afterward, distinguishing this recovery path from procedures that fuse or replace the joint entirely.

Anatomy & Axis Detail

Hip Joint, Right

The right hip joint is a deep ball-and-socket articulation between the femoral head and the acetabulum, and excision of tissue from this joint is performed for conditions such as labral pathology, synovial disease, avascular necrosis with articular involvement, or removal of loose bodies and diseased synovium that cannot be adequately treated by lesser means. Because the joint is surrounded by strong capsular ligaments and major neurovascular structures, including the sciatic nerve posteriorly and femoral vessels anteriorly, the surgical approach chosen, whether anterior, lateral, or posterior, significantly affects both technique and recovery. Excision at the hip can also refer to resection of a portion of the femoral head or acetabular rim short of full joint replacement, distinguishing it from arthroplasty procedures.

Approach: Percutaneous

Percutaneous describes entry by needle or instrument puncture through the skin or mucous membrane to reach the site of the procedure, without cutting the tissue open or using a visualizing scope. It differs from Open in that the site itself is never exposed, and from Percutaneous Endoscopic in that no endoscope is used to see internal structures. Common examples include needle biopsies and injections.

Coding & Documentation

Coders should confirm the documentation describes cutting out a portion of joint tissue, such as a partial meniscectomy, labral debridement, or synovial biopsy, with the remainder of the body part left in place. Pathology reports listing joint tissue specimens are strong supporting evidence. A frequent error is coding a complete meniscectomy or total synovectomy as Excision when the operative note actually describes removal of the entire structure, which some coding guidance treats as Resection depending on how the body part is defined for that joint. Another common pitfall is confusing a biopsy taken for diagnostic purposes with a therapeutic debridement, since both use Excision but may need different qualifiers indicating diagnostic intent.

Commonly Confused With

DestructionDestruction (0S5) is the nearest neighbor, since both address abnormal joint tissue; the split is whether tissue was physically cut out and could be sent to pathology (Excision) or eliminated in place with energy or chemicals (Destruction).
ExtirpationExtirpation (0SC) is distinct because it targets solid foreign or loose material rather than a portion of the body part itself, such as bone fragments or old suture material, not tissue that is normally part of the joint.
FusionFusion (0SG) is unrelated in purpose but sometimes performed alongside Excision when arthritic tissue is debrided before the joint surfaces are prepared for arthrodesis.