Anterior Approach Spine Fracture

Question:

Good day, my surgeon did a fracture treatment from the anterior approach on the C6-C7 spine; however, he did not do a corpectomy. Should I use the corpectomy code with a 52 modifier or an unlisted code? I was thinking of the comparable code as 22319. Thank you.

Answer:

In spine coding, there are no anterior fracture repair codes outside of the repair of an odontoid fracture. Typically, anterior fracture treatment is reported using existing anterior approach codes, such as anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF) or corpectomy, depending on the extent of the procedure.

Based on the information provided, it’s unclear precisely what was performed during the surgery, aside from the fact that a corpectomy was not done. Without access to the operative report or more detailed documentation, it’s challenging to make a definitive coding recommendation.

That said, here’s some general guidance: if the vertebral body bone is removed but does not meet the threshold for a corpectomy (which requires removal of at least 50% of the vertebral body for cervical), the procedure would typically be reported as an ACDF. Reviewing the operative note closely or consulting with the surgeon may help clarify whether the procedure aligns more closely with ACDF or warrants the use of an alternative code.

Thank you for reaching out to KZA with your inquiry.

*This response is based on the best information available as of 01/08/26.