Spinal Fusion Coding: Harvesting of Autograft for Spinal Fusion

Harvesting of the autograft for spinal fusion—is it coded?

YES and NO! It all depends on where the autograft is obtained from.

If the bone obtained for the autograft is at a different body site than the spinal fusion, then YES the harvesting of the autograft is coded separately.

If the bone obtained for the autograft is at the site of the spinal fusion, then NO the harvesting of the autograft is not coded separately.

Per the ICD-10-PCS Official Guidelines for Coding and Reporting 2023, “If an autograft is obtained from a different procedure site in order to complete the objective of the procedure, a separate procedure is coded.” For spinal fusion reporting, an example would be when the autograft is taken from the iliac crest and used during the spinal fusion. A separate code would be reported for the harvesting of the autograft since it is not in the spine area. Another example would be when the autograft is taken from the disc space during discectomy to use for the spinal fusion. A separate code would NOT be reported for the harvesting of the autograft from the disc space since it is at the site of the spinal fusion.

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