Table 2

CPT Codes Used in the Second Survey.

CPT® CodeDescriptionWork RVUs*
21556Excision, tumor, soft tissue of neck or anterior thorax, subfascial (e.g., intramuscular); less than 5 cm7.66
21932Excision, tumor, soft tissue of back or flank, subfascial (e.g., intramuscular); less than 5 cm9.82
22015Incision and drainage, open, of deep abscess (subfascial), posterior spine; lumbar, sacral, or lumbosacral12.64
22100partial excision of posterior vertebral column (e.g. spinous process, lamina, facet) for intrinsic bony lesion, single vertebral segment, cervical11.00
22101partial excision of posterior vertebral column (e.g. spinous process, lamina, facet) for intrinsic bony lesion, single vertebral segment, thoracic11.08
22102partial excision of posterior vertebral column (e.g. spinous process, lamina, facet) for intrinsic bony lesion, single vertebral segment, lumbar11.08
22315closed treatment of vertebral fracture and or dislocation requiring casting or bracing, with and including casting and or bracing by manipulation or traction10.11
22510Percutaneous vertebroplasty (bone biopsy included when performed), 1 vertebral body, unilateral or bilateral injection, inclusive of all imaging guidance; cervicothoracic8.15
22511Percutaneous vertebroplasty (bone biopsy included when performed), 1 vertebral body, unilateral or bilateral injection, inclusive of all imaging guidance; lumbosacral7.58
22513Percutaneous vertebral augmentation, including cavity creation (fracture reduction and bone biopsy included when performed) using mechanical device (e.g., kyphoplasty), 1 vertebral body, unilateral or bilateral cannulation, inclusive of all imaging guidance; thoracic8.90
22514Percutaneous vertebral augmentation, including cavity creation (fracture reduction and bone biopsy included when performed) using mechanical device (e.g., kyphoplasty), 1 vertebral body, unilateral or bilateral cannulation, inclusive of all imaging guidance; lumbar8.24
22554Arthrodesis, anterior interbody technique, including minimal discectomy to prepare interspace (other than for decompression); cervical below C217.69
27048Excision, tumor, soft tissue of pelvis and hip area, subfascial (e.g., intramuscular); less than 5 cm21.55
27050Arthrotomy, with biopsy; sacroiliac joint4.74
27052Arthrotomy, with biopsy; hip joint7.42
27216Percutaneous skeletal fixation of posterior pelvic bone fracture and/or dislocation, for fracture patterns that disrupt the pelvic ring, unilateral (includes ipsilateral ilium, sacroiliac joint, and/or sacrum15.73
27235Percutaneous skeletal fixation of femoral fracture, proximal end, neck13.00
27280Arthrodesis, sacroiliac joint (including obtaining graft), open14.64
62287Decompression procedure, percutaneous, of nucleus pulposus of intervertebral disc, any method utilizing needle based technique to remove disc material under fluoroscopic imaging or other form of indirect visualization, with the use of an endoscope, with discography and/or epidural injection(s) at the treated level(s), when performed, single or multiple levels, lumbar9.03
62292Injection procedure for chemonucleosis, including discography, intervertebral disc, single or multiple levels, lumbar9.24
63030Laminotomy (hemilaminectomy), with decompression of nerve root(s), including partial facetectomy, foraminotomy and/or excision of herniated intervertebral disc; 1 interspace, lumbar13.18
63075Discectomy, anterior, with decompression of spinal cord and/or nerve root(s), including osteophytectomy, cervical, single interspace19.60
63620Stereotactic radiosurgery (particle beam, gamma ray, or linear accelerator), 1 spinal lesion15.60
63650Percutaneous implantation of neurostimulator electrode array, epidural7.15
63655Laminectomy for implantation of neurostimulator electrodes, plate/paddle, epidural10.92
63662Removal of spinal neurostimulator electrode plate/paddle(s) placed via laminotomy or laminectomy, including fluoroscopy, when performed11.00
63663Revision including replacement, when performed, of spinal neurostimulator electrode percutaneous array(s), including fluoroscopy, when performed7.75
27279 Sacroiliac joint stabilization for arthrodesis, percutaneous or minimally invasive (indirect visualization), with image guidance including bone graft when performed, and placement of transfixing device (short descriptor: Arthrodesis, sacroiliac joint) 9.03**
  • * Representative of 2014 work RVU. Source: RBRVS Data Manager 2014.

  • ** Not included in the regression analysis; the RVUs were estimated by regression analysis.