Posterior fusion

Lori.Drodge@mainehealth.org

Per Coding Clinic 4Q10p125-129, facets are part of the posterior spinal column.  If a fusion requires a bone graft (CC1Q18p22-23), does use of a bone graft indicate that a “posterior column fusion” was done when packed into the facet joint as well as into the posterolateral gutter, following an anterior column fusion?  This distinction has DRG impact.

Lori.Drodge@mainehealth.org

Additional information to the above is that this is regarding TLIF fusions.  Thanks in advance for sharing your thoughts.

afrady@blr.com

Agree that the facets are part of the posterior spinal column.  The PLIF and TLIF however are interbody fusions so i cannot say if you should be picking anything up beyond that.  My initial instinct is to say no that what ever is done for an interbody fusion is probably integral to that unless you can see clearly that additional fusions are done.  



https://libmaneducation.com/spinal-fusion-qualifier-j-posterior-approach-to-anterior-column/