Musculoskeletal System CPT Review
Practice Test.
A patient presents with a healed fracture of the left ankle. The patient was placed on the OR table in the
supine position. After satisfactory induction of general anesthesia, the patient's left ankle was prepped
and draped. A small incision about 1 cm long was made in the previous incision. The lower screws were
removed. Another small incision was made just lateral about 1 cm long. The upper screws were
removed from the plate. Both wounds were thoroughly irrigated with copious amounts of antibiotic
containing saline. Skin was closed in a layered fashion and sterile dressing applied. What CPT® code(s)
should be reported? - CORRECT ANSWER 20680-LT
27-year-old triathlete is thrown from his bike on a steep downhill ride. He suffered a severely fractured
vertebra at C5. An anterior approach is used to dissect out the bony fragments and strengthen the spine
with titanium cages and arthrodesis. The surgeon places the patient supine on the OR table and
proceeds with an anterior corpectomy at C5 with discectomy above and below. Titanium cages are
placed in the resulting defect and morselized allograft bone is placed in and around the cages. Anterior
Synthes plates are placed across C2-C3 and C3-C5, and C5-C6. What CPT® codes should be reported? -
CORRECT ANSWER 63081, 22554-51, 22846, 22851, 20930
This 45-year-old male presents to the operating room with a painful mass of the right upper arm.
General anesthesia was induced. Soft tissue dissection was carried through the proximal aspect of the
teres minor muscle. Upon further dissection a large mass was noted just distal of the IGHL (inferior
glenohumeral ligament), which appeared to be benign in nature. With blunt dissection and
electrocautery, the 4-cm mass was removed en bloc and sent to pathology. The wound was irrigated,
and repair of the teres minor with subcutaneous tissue was closed with triple-0 Vicryl. Skin was closed
with double-0 Prolene in a subcuticular fashion. What CPT® code is reported? - CORRECT ANSWER
23076-RT
An 85-year-old has developed a lump in her right groin. An incision over the lesion was made and
dissected through the skin and subcutaneous tissue going deep into the femoral fascia. Sharp dissection
of the mass was performed, freeing it from surrounding structures. The 3-cm mass was isolated and
excised. The incision was closed, the area was cleaned and dried, and a dressing applied. What CPT®
code is reported? - CORRECT ANSWER 27048
This 45-year-old male presents to the operating room with a painful mass of the right upper arm. Upon
deep dissection a large mass in the soft tissue of the patient's shoulder was noted. The mass appeared
Practice Test.
A patient presents with a healed fracture of the left ankle. The patient was placed on the OR table in the
supine position. After satisfactory induction of general anesthesia, the patient's left ankle was prepped
and draped. A small incision about 1 cm long was made in the previous incision. The lower screws were
removed. Another small incision was made just lateral about 1 cm long. The upper screws were
removed from the plate. Both wounds were thoroughly irrigated with copious amounts of antibiotic
containing saline. Skin was closed in a layered fashion and sterile dressing applied. What CPT® code(s)
should be reported? - CORRECT ANSWER 20680-LT
27-year-old triathlete is thrown from his bike on a steep downhill ride. He suffered a severely fractured
vertebra at C5. An anterior approach is used to dissect out the bony fragments and strengthen the spine
with titanium cages and arthrodesis. The surgeon places the patient supine on the OR table and
proceeds with an anterior corpectomy at C5 with discectomy above and below. Titanium cages are
placed in the resulting defect and morselized allograft bone is placed in and around the cages. Anterior
Synthes plates are placed across C2-C3 and C3-C5, and C5-C6. What CPT® codes should be reported? -
CORRECT ANSWER 63081, 22554-51, 22846, 22851, 20930
This 45-year-old male presents to the operating room with a painful mass of the right upper arm.
General anesthesia was induced. Soft tissue dissection was carried through the proximal aspect of the
teres minor muscle. Upon further dissection a large mass was noted just distal of the IGHL (inferior
glenohumeral ligament), which appeared to be benign in nature. With blunt dissection and
electrocautery, the 4-cm mass was removed en bloc and sent to pathology. The wound was irrigated,
and repair of the teres minor with subcutaneous tissue was closed with triple-0 Vicryl. Skin was closed
with double-0 Prolene in a subcuticular fashion. What CPT® code is reported? - CORRECT ANSWER
23076-RT
An 85-year-old has developed a lump in her right groin. An incision over the lesion was made and
dissected through the skin and subcutaneous tissue going deep into the femoral fascia. Sharp dissection
of the mass was performed, freeing it from surrounding structures. The 3-cm mass was isolated and
excised. The incision was closed, the area was cleaned and dried, and a dressing applied. What CPT®
code is reported? - CORRECT ANSWER 27048
This 45-year-old male presents to the operating room with a painful mass of the right upper arm. Upon
deep dissection a large mass in the soft tissue of the patient's shoulder was noted. The mass appeared
