Table 5

Difficulty Scores Estimated by the Rasch Analysis.

CPT® CodePercent Responding that CPT® 27279 is *Difficulty Score
DescriptionEQUAL WorkLESS WorkMORE WorkDo Not Perform Comparative Procedure
21556Excision, tumor, soft tissue of neck or anterior thorax, subfascial (e.g., intramuscular); less than 5 cm8.8%2.9%65%24%-3.77698
21932Excision, tumor, soft tissue of back or flank, subfascial (e.g., intramuscular); less than 5 cm12%2.9%68%18%-3.85504
22015Incision and drainage, open, of deep abscess (subfascial), posterior spine; lumbar, sacral, or lumbosacral2.9%2.9%91%2.9%-4.11477
22100partial excision of posterior vertebral column (e.g. spinous process, lamina, facet) for intrinsic bony lesion, single vertebral segment, cervical18%24%50%8.8%-0.98816
22101partial excision of posterior vertebral column (e.g. spinous process, lamina, facet) for intrinsic bony lesion, single vertebral segment, thoracic24%21%50%5.9%-1.03313
22102partial excision of posterior vertebral column (e.g. spinous process, lamina, facet) for intrinsic bony lesion, single vertebral segment, lumbar24%21%50%5.9%-1.03313
22315closed treatment of vertebral fracture and or dislocation requiring casting or bracing, with and including casting and or bracing by manipulation or traction5.9%2.9%88%2.9%-5.36145
22510Percutaneous vertebroplasty (bone biopsy included when performed), 1 vertebral body, unilateral or bilateral injection, inclusive of all imaging guidance; cervicothoracic8.8%2.9%85%2.9%-3.35257
22511Percutaneous vertebroplasty (bone biopsy included when performed), 1 vertebral body, unilateral or bilateral injection, inclusive of all imaging guidance; lumbosacral5.9%2.9%91%0%-4.11477
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; thoracic12%2.9%85%0%-3.38954
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; lumbar8.8%5.9%85%0%-2.50677
22554Arthrodesis, anterior interbody technique, including minimal discectomy to prepare interspace (other than for decompression); cervical below C238%38%18%5.9%0.80289
27048Excision, tumor, soft tissue of pelvis and hip area, subfascial (e.g., intramuscular); less than 5 cm5.9%8.8%53%32%-1.78938
27050Arthrotomy, with biopsy; sacroiliac joint8.8%8.8%59%24%-2.71452
27052Arthrotomy, with biopsy; hip joint5.9%12%44%38%-1.84758
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 sacrum21%35%35%-1.90267
27235Percutaneous skeletal fixation of femoral fracture, proximal end, neck18%2.9%38%41%-1.63564
27280Arthrodesis, sacroiliac joint (including obtaining graft), open21%50%18%12%1.60055
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, lumbar15%8.8%62%15%-2.30662
62292Injection procedure for chemonucleosis, including discography, intervertebral disc, single or multiple levels, lumbar0%12%62%26%-2.32848
63030Laminotomy (hemilaminectomy), with decompression of nerve root(s), including partial facetectomy, foraminotomy and/or excision of herniated intervertebral disc; 1 interspace, lumbar38%21%38%2.9%-0.67092
63075Discectomy, anterior, with decompression of spinal cord and/or nerve root(s), including osteophytectomy, cervical, single interspace38%35%21%5.9%0.25978
63620Stereotactic radiosurgery (particle beam, gamma ray, or linear accelerator), 1 spinal lesion2.9%8.8%21%68%-1.87111
63650Percutaneous implantation of neurostimulator electrode array, epidural12%5.9%53%29%-2.60639
63655Laminectomy for implantation of neurostimulator electrodes, plate/paddle, epidural18%15%44%14%-1.71518
63662Removal of spinal neurostimulator electrode plate/paddle(s) placed via laminotomy or laminectomy, including fluoroscopy, when performed12%5.9%68%15%-3.33569
63663Revision including replacement, when performed, of spinal neurostimulator electrode percutaneous array(s), including fluoroscopy, when performed15%21%44%21%-1.19609
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) NANANANA0.0000**
  • * Among those responding to the item.

  • ** Assigned for comparative purposes.