CPC Surgery 20000: Musculoskeletal Practice Questions
Surgery 20000: Musculoskeletal makes up 3 of every 50 questions on a Tigertest CPC practice test. Here are 10 of the 12 questions on it, each with the answer and the reason.
Updated by the Tigertest team. Based on AAPC's published CPC exam areas, the ICD-10-CM Official Guidelines, CMS rules and CPT conventions. Original questions; no code-book lookups.
1. CPT fracture codes are selected by:
- A.The patient's age
- B.The type of treatment given
- C.Whether the fracture is open
- D.The fracture pattern
Answer: B. CPT fracture codes describe closed, open or percutaneous treatment, which is not the same as the open or closed type of fracture.
2. An open fracture treated without surgically opening the site is coded as:
- A.Percutaneous fixation
- B.An unlisted procedure
- C.Open treatment
- D.Closed treatment
Answer: D. Treatment type follows what the surgeon did. An open (compound) fracture can still receive closed treatment.
3. In CPT fracture care, manipulation means:
- A.Reduction of the fracture
- B.Traction alone
- C.Casting of the limb
- D.Internal fixation
Answer: A. Manipulation is the attempted reduction or restoration of a fracture or dislocation to its normal alignment.
4. The first cast or splint applied as part of fracture treatment is:
- A.Reported with modifier 59
- B.Billed only by the cast technician
- C.Included in the fracture code
- D.Always reported separately
Answer: C. Initial cast or strapping is part of fracture care. Replacement casts during or after the follow-up period are reported separately.
5. When surgical arthroscopy is performed, a diagnostic arthroscopy of the same joint is:
- A.Coded as an add-on
- B.Coded with modifier 51
- C.Not coded separately
- D.Coded with modifier 59
Answer: C. CPT states that surgical arthroscopy always includes diagnostic arthroscopy.
6. ORIF stands for:
- A.Open reduction internal fixation
- B.Operative realignment, internal fusion
- C.Outpatient reduction, internal fixation
- D.Open resection and implant fusion
Answer: A. ORIF is open reduction (exposing and realigning the fracture) with internal fixation such as plates, screws or rods.
7. Arthrodesis means:
- A.Replacement of a joint
- B.Surgical repair of a joint
- C.Puncture of a joint
- D.Surgical fusion of a joint
Answer: D. Arthrodesis fuses a joint so it no longer moves. Repair or replacement is arthroplasty and puncture is arthrocentesis.
8. Additional levels of spinal arthrodesis are reported per:
- A.Hour of surgery
- B.Interspace fused
- C.Vertebra removed
- D.Screw placed
Answer: B. Spinal fusion codes count interspaces, with add-on codes for each additional interspace. Instrumentation is coded separately by segments.
9. A spinal bone graft obtained through a separate incision is:
- A.Coded with modifier 22
- B.Reported separately
- C.Always included
- D.Never reportable
Answer: B. Spinal bone grafts are add-on codes reported in addition to the arthrodesis, with no modifier 51.
10. Kyphoplasty differs from vertebroplasty because it:
- A.Fuses two vertebrae
- B.Removes the disc
- C.Uses no bone cement
- D.Creates a cavity with a balloon
Answer: D. Both inject cement into a fractured vertebral body. Kyphoplasty first creates a cavity, usually with an inflatable balloon.
Practice all 12 surgery 20000: musculoskeletal questions, and the rest of the 200-question bank, in the free CPC training sets. Questions you miss come back until you have mastered them.
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