CPT Coding for Spine Surgery Series

Vocabulary flashcards for spine surgery coding.

Spinal Nerve Compression

Pressure on the spinal cord or spinal nerve roots.

Lamina

The bony area that makes up the back part of each vertebra.

Laminectomy

Removes most of the lamina, the bony area that makes up the back part of each vertebra

Laminotomy

Similar to a laminectomy but only removes a small portion of the bone

Hemilaminectomy

Involves lamina removal on only one side.

Fascitectomy

Removal of the articular facets.

Foramenotomy

The widening of the foramen, the opening where a nerve root leaves the spinal canal.

Disc

Lies between the vertebral bodies, and due to degeneration or injury, can become weakened and herniate out of its space and compress the nerve.

Corpectomy

A procedure where the vertebral body and the discs attached above and below it are removed.

Posterior Approach

The posterior extradural laminotomy or laminectomy for exploration and or decompression of neural elements or excision of herniated intervertebral discs.

Spondylolisthesis

A condition involving lumbar spine instability.

Laminotomy (Posterior)

Opening or removal of a smaller amount of lamina from one side of the posterior spine.

Lateral Recess

The space within the spinal canal that is located toward the sides and close to the spinal nerve root.

Motion Segment

A single vertebral segment

Transpedicular Approach

Requires removal of part of one of the two pedicles.

Pedicles

Short, thick bony processes that project posteriorly from the body of the vertebra and unite with the lamina to form the vertebral arch, which contains the spinal cord.

Costovertebral Approach

Involves partial rib excision and removal of the transverse process on the affected side of the vertebra so that a ventral window can be created for visualization of the spinal cord and nerve roots.

Corpectomy

A resection of the vertebral body.

Thoracotomy

An incision into the chest.

Lateral Extracavitary Approach

Allows the surgeon to access the vertebrae from different aspects through a single incision resembling an L shape.