ICD-10-PCS Billable Code

0MS20ZZ

Reposition Shoulder Bursa and Ligament, Left to No Qualifier with No Device, Open Approach

Procedural Specifications

Clinical Axis Detail Definition
Section0 Medical and Surgical
Body SystemM Bursae and Ligaments
OperationS Reposition
Body Part2 Shoulder Bursa and Ligament, Left
Approach0 Open
DeviceZ No Device
QualifierZ 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

Shoulder Bursa and Ligament, Left

In the left shoulder, ligaments and bursae such as the coracoclavicular ligament complex and subacromial bursa maintain proper alignment between the clavicle, acromion, and humeral head throughout overhead motion. When trauma or degenerative laxity shifts these structures out of their normal position, causing instability or impingement, reposition surgery relocates the displaced tissue back to correct anatomic alignment rather than removing or replacing it. The procedure typically involves anchoring the ligament to its native bony attachment site using sutures or fixation devices. Given the shoulder's reliance on precise ligamentous geometry for stability across a wide arc of motion, even small deviations in repositioning can affect long-term function, making accurate restoration of the original anatomic relationships a central goal of this procedure.

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.

Commonly Confused With

RepairRepair is the operation most likely to be confused here, since both can involve reattaching tissue; the distinction is whether the structure is being fixed in its original position (Repair) or deliberately moved to a different one (Reposition).
ReplacementReplacement should not be selected unless the native ligament is removed and substituted with graft material, which is not the case in a pure repositioning procedure.
ReleaseRelease, found under a different root operation, applies when the goal is simply to free a ligament or bursa from surrounding scar tissue without relocating it.