0STC0ZZ
Resection Knee Joint, Right to No Qualifier with No Device, Open Approach
Procedural Specifications
| Clinical Axis | Detail Definition |
|---|---|
| Section | 0 Medical and Surgical |
| Body System | S Lower Joints |
| Operation | T Resection |
| Body Part | C Knee Joint, Right |
| 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 in the lower joints means surgically removing an entire joint or joint structure without replacing it with any device. This is less common than joint replacement, typically reserved for severe infection that has destroyed a joint, a tumor requiring removal of the joint surfaces, or a salvage option after a failed implant cannot be replaced right away. A well-known example is resection arthroplasty of the hip, sometimes called a Girdlestone procedure, where the femoral head is removed and the space fills with scar tissue.
Because no artificial joint is inserted, patients typically have a shortened limb and altered mechanics, and mobility aids or later reconstruction may follow. This trade-off is usually accepted specifically to clear infection or malignant tissue threatening the limb.
Anatomy & Axis Detail
Knee Joint, Right
The right knee joint is the tibiofemoral articulation, a hinge-type joint stabilized by the cruciate and collateral ligaments and cushioned by the menisci, with the patellofemoral compartment coded separately from this component. Resection of the knee joint involves excising the articular surfaces of the femoral condyles and tibial plateau, a procedure most often performed for overwhelming periprosthetic or native joint infection where source control is needed before any reconstruction, for severe post-traumatic joint destruction, or as tumor resection involving the distal femur or proximal tibia. In infected cases this frequently constitutes the first stage of a two-stage revision, with an antibiotic spacer placed afterward, though the spacer placement is captured under a different root operation. Because the knee bears the body's full weight, resection without immediate stabilization typically requires external fixation or bracing to protect the limb.
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 should look for documentation that the joint or a defined structure was entirely removed and nothing was implanted in its place; if a spacer or prosthesis went in during the same operation, the case likely calls for Replacement or a combination of codes instead of Resection alone. Infection control, pathology reports for malignancy, and prior failed hardware are common clinical justifications. The most frequent error is coding Resection when an antibiotic cement spacer was actually placed, since a spacer typically reclassifies the procedure as Replacement.