0UQ40ZZ
Repair Uterine Supporting Structure to No Qualifier with No Device, Open Approach
Procedural Specifications
| Clinical Axis | Detail Definition |
|---|---|
| Section | 0 Medical and Surgical |
| Body System | U Female Reproductive System |
| Operation | Q Repair |
| Body Part | 4 Uterine Supporting Structure |
| Approach | 0 Open |
| Device | Z No Device |
| Qualifier | Z No Qualifier |
Operation Definition
Restoring, to the extent possible, a body part to its normal anatomic structure and function
Procedure Overview
Repair procedures in the female reproductive system cover surgeries that restore a body part to its normal structure and function when no other root operation more precisely describes what was done. This is the root operation used when a surgeon closes a laceration, drains a hematoma, or corrects a defect without removing tissue, replacing it with a substitute, or rearranging anatomy in one of the other specific ways ICD-10-PCS defines. It is essentially a catch-all for reconstructive or corrective work on the uterus, ovaries, fallopian tubes, vagina, vulva, or cervix.
Patients encounter these procedures after childbirth trauma, such as suturing a perineal or cervical tear, or following an injury or unintended surgical complication, such as repairing an accidental puncture of the uterus during another operation. Because Repair is a residual category, it is only assigned when the documentation doesn't support a more specific term like Resection, Reposition, or Supplement.
Anatomy & Axis Detail
Uterine Supporting Structure
The uterine supporting structures include the ligaments and connective tissue that hold the uterus in its normal pelvic position, such as the round, broad, cardinal, and uterosacral ligaments, and repair of these structures addresses conditions like uterine prolapse or ligament laxity following childbirth or aging. Procedures coded here include uterosacral or round ligament suspension and similar reconstructive techniques intended to restore normal anatomic support rather than remove or replace tissue with graft material. Because these ligaments are thin and closely associated with pelvic nerves, vessels, and the ureters, particularly where the cardinal ligament crosses near the ureter, careful dissection and suture placement are needed to avoid injury. Documentation should specify which supporting structure was repaired and confirm that native tissue was used, since mesh-based reinforcement may instead be coded as Supplement.
Approach: Open
Open approach means the surgeon cuts through skin, mucous membrane, or other tissue layers to physically expose the target site to view before performing the procedure. It gives direct visualization and hands-on access, distinguishing it from Percutaneous approaches where instruments pass through a small puncture without exposing the site. Open is typical for procedures needing wide access, such as most laparotomies.
Coding & Documentation
A coder should turn to Repair only after confirming that none of the more specific root operations apply, since PCS coding conventions treat Repair as the default rather than a first choice. The operative note needs to clearly describe suturing, closure, or reconstruction of a defect, along with the exact structure involved (for example, cervix versus vaginal wall) and the surgical approach, whether open, percutaneous endoscopic, or vaginal.
The most common assignment error is defaulting to Repair when the surgeon actually performed a more specific operation, such as reattaching a prolapsed structure to its normal position (Reposition) or reinforcing tissue with mesh (Supplement). Coders also sometimes miss that a repair performed incidentally during a different primary procedure, like repairing a cystotomy during a hysterectomy, may not need separate coding depending on payer and coding guideline rules.