0SRE039
Replacement Hip Joint, Acetabular Surface, Left to Cemented with Synthetic Substitute, Ceramic, Open Approach
Procedural Specifications
| Clinical Axis | Detail Definition |
|---|---|
| Section | 0 Medical and Surgical |
| Body System | S Lower Joints |
| Operation | R Replacement |
| Body Part | E Hip Joint, Acetabular Surface, Left |
| Approach | 0 Open |
| Device | 3 Synthetic Substitute, Ceramic |
| Qualifier | 9 Cemented |
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
Joint replacement in the lower extremities involves removing damaged or arthritic surfaces of a hip, knee, or ankle and implanting an artificial device that takes over the joint's function. Surgeons turn to this once medications, injections, and physical therapy no longer control the pain or stiffness of advanced osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, avascular necrosis, or a joint destroyed by prior trauma. The goal is restoring the ability to walk, climb stairs, and move without bone grinding on bone.
Implants are made of metal alloys, ceramic, or high-grade polyethylene, and a case can replace an entire joint (total) or a single compartment (partial). Recovery centers on physical therapy to build strength around the new joint; most patients regain substantial function within a few months, though the device will eventually wear and may need revision decades later.
Anatomy & Axis Detail
Hip Joint, Acetabular Surface, Left
On the left side, the acetabular surface again refers to the pelvic socket component of the hip, replaced with a prosthetic cup and liner as one half of a total hip arthroplasty. The indication is usually the same degenerative or post-traumatic pathology seen on the right, but documentation for the left hip must be captured under its own laterality-specific code, particularly in staged bilateral hip replacements performed months apart. Surgeons record acetabular version and inclination angles when placing the cup, since malposition of this component is a leading cause of dislocation and revision, making precise identification of this body part important for both the initial procedure and any subsequent corrective coding.
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: Synthetic Substitute, Ceramic
Synthetic Substitute, Ceramic denotes an implant with both articulating surfaces made of ceramic material, valued for its hardness and low friction properties, most often used in hip arthroplasty. It differs from Ceramic on Polyethylene, which pairs a ceramic surface against a polyethylene liner rather than another ceramic surface, and from all-metal or metal-on-polyethylene substitutes made from different materials entirely.
Qualifier: Cemented
Cemented qualifies a joint replacement procedure by indicating that the prosthetic component was fixed to bone using bone cement rather than relying on bony ingrowth. It is distinguished from the Uncemented qualifier, with the choice affecting expected fixation strength, recovery timeline, and revision considerations.
Coding & Documentation
A coder assigns Replacement when the operative note documents removal of the native articular surface and insertion of a device meant to permanently substitute for it, not merely resurface it. Documentation should specify the joint, laterality, and whether the procedure was total or partial, since these drive qualifier selection. A common error is confusing partial resurfacing that leaves native bone intact with full Replacement, or missing that a revision arthroplasty swapping the entire prosthesis is still Replacement rather than Revision.