0MBN3ZX
Excision Knee Bursa and Ligament, Right to Diagnostic with No Device, Percutaneous Approach
Procedural Specifications
| Clinical Axis | Detail Definition |
|---|---|
| Section | 0 Medical and Surgical |
| Body System | M Bursae and Ligaments |
| Operation | B Excision |
| Body Part | N Knee Bursa and Ligament, Right |
| Approach | 3 Percutaneous |
| Device | Z No Device |
| Qualifier | X Diagnostic |
Operation Definition
Cutting out or off, without replacement, a portion of a body part
Procedure Overview
Excision procedures cut out a portion of a bursa or ligament without replacing it, leaving the remainder of the structure in place. This is done to remove diseased, damaged, or chronically inflamed tissue, such as a thickened bursa that has not responded to drainage or rest, or a partially torn ligament that needs debridement of frayed edges before repair.
A bursectomy, in which part of an inflamed bursa is removed, is a typical example, as is trimming away degenerated portions of a ligament during reconstructive surgery. Because only a portion of the structure is taken, the ligament or bursa continues to exist and function afterward, distinguishing this from a resection that removes the entire body part.
Excision is often performed as a standalone treatment for chronic bursitis or degenerative ligament disease, or as a preparatory step before repair or reconstruction.
Anatomy & Axis Detail
Knee Bursa and Ligament, Right
On the right knee, this code applies to excision of a portion of the prepatellar, infrapatellar, pes anserine, or other periarticular bursa, or one of the collateral or cruciate-adjacent ligament structures grouped under this body part value. Excision is commonly performed for a symptomatic bursa distended by chronic friction or infection, such as "housemaid's knee," or for a torn or degenerated ligament fragment that cannot be repaired and must instead be removed. The knee's superficial and deep bursae sit close to the patella and joint line, so the surgeon must avoid the underlying articular surfaces and extensor mechanism while removing tissue. Arthroscopic or open technique is chosen based on which bursa or ligament is involved, and coders should confirm the operative report identifies the right knee specifically.
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.
Qualifier: Diagnostic
Applied chiefly to Excision, this qualifier marks that tissue was removed specifically for diagnostic purposes, i.e., a biopsy intended for pathologic evaluation rather than to treat disease. It distinguishes biopsy-type excisions from therapeutic excisions of the same body part, which are coded without this qualifier even though the physical technique may be identical.
Coding & Documentation
Coders should confirm the note describes cutting out and removing a specific portion of tissue that is sent to pathology or discarded, as opposed to simply releasing or draining the structure. If the entire bursa or ligament is removed, the correct root operation is Resection rather than Excision, so the extent of removal documented by the surgeon is critical.
A frequent error is coding debridement performed as part of a repair as a separate Excision when it was an integral, inherent part of the definitive procedure and should not be coded separately. Biopsies of ligament or bursa tissue also fall under Excision and require attention to the diagnostic qualifier.