0PSH36Z
Reposition Radius, Right to No Qualifier with Internal Fixation Device, Intramedullary, Percutaneous Approach
Procedural Specifications
| Clinical Axis | Detail Definition |
|---|---|
| Section | 0 Medical and Surgical |
| Body System | P Upper Bones |
| Operation | S Reposition |
| Body Part | H Radius, Right |
| Approach | 3 Percutaneous |
| Device | 6 Internal Fixation Device, Intramedullary |
| Qualifier | Z No Qualifier |
Operation Definition
Moving to its normal location, or other suitable location, all or a portion of a body part
Procedure Overview
This family describes moving a bone of the skull, face, chest wall, or upper extremity back to its normal anatomic location, or to another location that will function better, without cutting the bone free and removing it from the body. It's the code family used for reducing a displaced fracture, correcting a malunion, or realigning a bone that has shifted out of its normal position due to trauma or a congenital condition.
The procedure preserves the bone's own blood supply and continuity while adjusting its position - fixation with pins, plates, or screws is often part of the same operative episode to hold the corrected alignment in place.
Anatomy & Axis Detail
Radius, Right
The right radius is the lateral forearm bone that rotates around the ulna to permit pronation and supination, and reposition is commonly performed for distal radius fractures such as those following a fall onto an outstretched hand, as well as for radial shaft or head fractures. Because the radius's rotational relationship to the ulna directly governs forearm motion, even modest angular or rotational malalignment after a fracture can meaningfully limit pronation and supination, making precise realignment clinically important. The distal radius's proximity to the wrist joint surface adds concern for articular step-off, while radial head fractures near the elbow raise separate concerns about joint congruity. Documentation should specify the fracture location along the radius, since distal, shaft, and head fractures each carry distinct reduction techniques and functional implications.
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: Internal Fixation Device, Intramedullary
An intramedullary internal fixation device is a rod or nail inserted into the medullary canal of a long bone to stabilize a fracture from within, sharing load along the bone's central axis. It is distinguished from a rigid plate, which stabilizes the bone from its outer surface, and from the intramedullary limb lengthening variant, which adds a mechanism to gradually distract the bone.
Coding & Documentation
A coder looks for language describing realignment, reduction, or repositioning of a fragment or whole bone as the defining clue, distinguishing it from repair language about restoring damaged tissue in place. Fixation devices used to hold the new position should be captured through the device value on the same code rather than as a separate procedure when performed at the same operative site. A common error is coding an open reduction and internal fixation entirely as repair, missing that the reduction component is reposition while the fixation is captured through the device character. Another pitfall is failing to distinguish reposition from resection when a bone fragment is removed rather than realigned.