0MT40ZZ
Resection Elbow Bursa and Ligament, Left 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 | T Resection |
| Body Part | 4 Elbow Bursa and Ligament, Left |
| Approach | 0 Open |
| Device | Z No Device |
| Qualifier | Z No Qualifier |
Operation Definition
Cutting out or off, without replacement, all of a body part
Procedure Overview
Resection procedures in this family involve cutting out an entire bursa or ligament without replacing it, typically because the structure has become a source of chronic pain, inflammation, or dysfunction that outweighs its remaining usefulness. A classic example is bursectomy for chronic olecranon or prepatellar bursitis that has failed conservative treatment, where the inflamed bursal sac is excised in its entirety rather than drained or repaired.
Surgeons pursue full resection when a bursa is persistently infected, calcified, or thickened, or when a ligament is so degenerated or contributing to impingement that removing it altogether is more beneficial than attempting repair. Unlike partial excisions performed to biopsy or debride tissue, resection removes the whole named structure. Patients typically recover well because bursae and many accessory ligaments are not essential to joint function once inflammation is resolved.
Anatomy & Axis Detail
Elbow Bursa and Ligament, Left
On the left elbow, the olecranon bursa and the ulnar and radial collateral ligaments make up the principal bursae and ligaments subject to resection. As on the contralateral side, chronic or septic olecranon bursitis is the most frequent indication, with the superficial, fluid-filled sac removed in its entirety when repeated drainage or infection makes it a persistent clinical problem. Because the bursa lies just beneath the skin over the olecranon process, its resection is a comparatively low-risk procedure, though care is taken to avoid injury to the adjacent ulnar nerve. Resection of a collateral ligament itself is uncommon and generally reserved for severely diseased tissue rather than routine instability, which is more often addressed through repair or replacement rather than outright excision.
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
A coder selects Resection when the documentation confirms complete removal of an entire bursa or ligament, not just a portion, and no replacement or graft material is used. Look for terms such as "bursectomy," "complete excision," or "ligament removed in its entirety." A common error is applying Resection when only part of the structure was taken, which should instead be coded as Excision, a distinct root operation reserved for partial removal. Coders also need to verify that removal was not a preliminary step to a Replacement procedure performed in the same operative episode, which would require separate coding.