ICD-10-PCS Billable Code

0PRM07Z

Replacement Carpal, Right to No Qualifier with Autologous Tissue Substitute, Open Approach

Procedural Specifications

Clinical Axis Detail Definition
Section0 Medical and Surgical
Body SystemP Upper Bones
OperationR Replacement
Body PartM Carpal, Right
Approach0 Open
Device7 Autologous Tissue Substitute
QualifierZ No Qualifier

Operation Definition

Putting in or on biological or synthetic material that physically takes the place and/or function of all or a portion of a body part

Procedure Overview

Replacement procedures in the upper bones involve removing all or part of a bone in the skull, face, thorax, or upper limb and substituting it with a device or biological material that takes over its structural role. Cranioplasty with a synthetic plate after a skull defect, and prosthetic reconstruction of a portion of the humerus or clavicle following tumor removal, are typical examples.

These procedures are performed when a bone is too damaged, diseased, or absent to be repaired or repositioned, and the patient needs a physical substitute to maintain the shape of the skull or the mechanical function of a limb. The material can be a synthetic implant, such as titanium mesh or bone cement, or biological tissue, such as an allograft.

Anatomy & Axis Detail

Carpal, Right

The carpal bones are the small, tightly packed bones of the wrist that form two rows gliding against the radius, ulna, and metacarpals to allow the wrist's complex range of motion, with the scaphoid and lunate particularly prone to avascular necrosis and nonunion. Replacement in this group most often applies to a bone such as the scaphoid or lunate that has collapsed from Kienbock disease, failed fracture healing, or avascular necrosis, where a vascularized bone graft, allograft, or synthetic carpal substitute is shaped to fit precisely among its neighboring bones. Because carpal alignment is unforgiving, even small errors in the size or positioning of the replaced bone can disrupt wrist kinematics. Coders should note which specific carpal bone was addressed, since the operative report often names it individually.

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.

Device: Autologous Tissue Substitute

Autologous Tissue Substitute identifies a device value where material harvested from the patient's own body, such as an autograft, is used to replace or reconstruct a body part. Its defining feature is tissue origin from the patient, setting it apart from Nonautologous Tissue Substitute, sourced from a donor or animal, and Synthetic Substitute, made of manufactured material.

Coding & Documentation

Coding from this family requires documentation that a body part was actually taken out and something physically put in its place, not simply reinforced. The device value must match the material used - synthetic versus autologous versus nonautologous tissue - so operative notes describing the graft source matter for accurate code selection. A recurring error is coding replacement when the native bone was left in place and only augmented, which belongs under supplement instead. Coders should also confirm whether the replaced segment is a full bone or only a portion, since this affects the body part value chosen.

Commonly Confused With

SupplementSupplement is the family most often mixed up with replacement: supplement adds material to reinforce an existing structure that remains in place, while replacement requires the original body part to be taken out first.
ResectionResection is also nearby conceptually, since replacement often follows a resection performed in the same operative episode, but resection itself is coded separately and involves no substitute material.