ICD-10-PCS Billable Code

0NRM37Z

Replacement Zygomatic Bone, Right to No Qualifier with Autologous Tissue Substitute, Percutaneous Approach

Procedural Specifications

Clinical Axis Detail Definition
Section0 Medical and Surgical
Body SystemN Head and Facial Bones
OperationR Replacement
Body PartM Zygomatic Bone, Right
Approach3 Percutaneous
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 put in biological or synthetic material - such as a cranioplasty plate, custom facial implant, or bone graft - to physically take the place of all or part of a skull or facial bone that is missing, damaged, or was previously removed. This family is used when the goal is not just to fix the existing bone but to substitute new material for a portion that no longer serves its structural role.

Common reasons include reconstructing a skull defect left after a craniectomy for trauma or tumor, rebuilding an orbital floor after a blowout fracture, or restoring facial contour with a custom implant following cancer resection. Patients pursuing these procedures are typically working toward both functional protection of underlying structures, like the brain or eye, and restoration of facial appearance.

Anatomy & Axis Detail

Zygomatic Bone, Right

The right zygomatic bone forms the cheek prominence and contributes to the lateral orbital wall, orbital floor, and zygomatic arch, making it central to both facial projection and orbital support. It is replaced when comminuted fracture, malunion, tumor resection, or infection destroys enough bone that fixation alone cannot restore contour or protect the globe. Because this bone anchors the masseter muscle and helps define midface width and orbital volume, replacement generally uses a custom-contoured implant or bone graft secured with plates through periorbital, intraoral, or coronal approaches, chosen to match facial symmetry with the unaffected side. Surgeons must also account for the infraorbital nerve coursing nearby, and documentation should note the graft or implant material along with any concurrent orbital floor support provided.

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.

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

Documentation should specify the material used, whether an autologous bone graft, titanium mesh, or synthetic implant, and confirm that it is taking the place of bone rather than merely reinforcing it. Coders need to identify the specific facial or cranial bone being replaced, since body part selection within this family is granular. A frequent error is coding Replacement when a graft is instead used to support a repair rather than substitute for missing bone, and another is confusing a temporary spacer or external fixation device, which does not qualify as replacement material, with a permanent implant.

Commonly Confused With

SupplementReplacement is closely related to Supplement procedures in body systems where that root operation exists, and to Repair within this same family; the key distinction from Repair is that Replacement always introduces material that takes over the bone's structural role, whereas Repair works with the patient's own existing bone.
RemovalIt is also distinguished from Removal, which takes material out without putting anything new in its place.