0MSG0ZZ
Reposition Rib(s) Bursa and Ligament to No Qualifier with No Device, Open Approach
Procedural Specifications
| Clinical Axis | Detail Definition |
|---|---|
| Section | 0 Medical and Surgical |
| Body System | M Bursae and Ligaments |
| Operation | S Reposition |
| Body Part | G Rib(s) Bursa and Ligament |
| Approach | 0 Open |
| Device | Z No Device |
| 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
Reposition procedures move a bursa or, more often, a ligament from an abnormal location back to its correct anatomic position, or to another location that will let it function properly. A common scenario is surgical repositioning of a chronically dislocating patellar or biceps tendon-associated ligamentous structure, or realignment of a displaced ligament following trauma, where the tissue itself is healthy but sitting in the wrong place.
This differs from most other procedures in the family because the ligament or bursa is not cut out, replaced, or reinforced - it is detached, moved, and reattached or otherwise secured in its new position. Surgeons choose this approach when a structural malalignment, rather than tissue damage, is causing pain, instability, or abnormal joint mechanics, such as recurrent shoulder or kneecap dislocation. Restoring normal alignment allows the joint to track and load correctly, reducing repeat injury and improving comfort with movement.
Anatomy & Axis Detail
Rib(s) Bursa and Ligament
Rib bursa and ligament structures include the costotransverse, costovertebral, and radiate ligaments that secure each rib to the vertebral column and maintain the mechanics of respiration. Reposition is indicated when one of these ligaments has been torn from its normal position, for example after severe chest trauma or during correction of a flail segment, and the surgeon moves the displaced tissue back to its anatomic site without removing or replacing it. Because the costovertebral ligaments lie close to the spinal nerve roots and pleura, careful handling is necessary to avoid pneumothorax or nerve injury during mobilization. Coders should confirm that the procedure targets the ligament itself rather than the adjacent rib fracture, which would be captured under a different body system.
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
This code applies when the operative note describes moving a bursa or ligament to a new site and securing it there, using language such as "transposed," "relocated," or "repositioned." The coder should confirm the structure itself was not resected or supplemented with additional material during the move - only its location changed. A frequent mistake is coding Reposition when a ligament was actually released and reattached at its original insertion point after debridement, which may better reflect Repair. Coders should also verify the correct body part is selected based on the ligament's final anatomic location rather than its origin.