Kyphoplasty and Vertebroplasty Policy Number: Original Effective Date: MM.06.007 01/11/2005 Line(s) of Business: Current Effective Date: HMO; PPO; QUEST 10/26/2012 Section: Surgery Place(s) of Service: Inpatient; Outpatient I. Description Kyphoplasty is a procedure used to treat individuals with one or more vertebral body compression fractures. Performed by an orthopedic or neurosurgeon under fluoroscopic guidance, a small cannula is introduced and balloon catheters are inserted and inflated to create a space within the vertebra. The balloon catheters are removed and the space is filled with a bone cement mixture, usually polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA). The goal is to restore height to the bone, thus reducing deformity of the spine and to immediately stabilize the fracture. The procedure is usually performed on both sides of the vertebral body through the pedicles. The patient requires a one-day hospital stay and the procedure is usually performed under general anesthesia. Vertebroplasty is an interventional radiology procedure using fluoroscopic guidance, in which polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) is injected into a weakened vertebral body. The procedure is used for relief of pain caused by vertebral compression fractures or osteolytic lesions of the spine due to multiple myeloma or metastatic malignancy. Vertebroplasty may also be used for vertebral hemangioma causing severe pain or nerve compression. II. Criteria/Guidelines A. Percutaneous kyphoplasty is covered (subject to Limitations/ Exclusions and Administrative Guidelines) when the following criteria are met: 1. The patient has acute vertebral compression fractures secondary to osteoporosis, has experienced severe back pain for at least four weeks and has failed an adequate trial of conservative therapy that includes, but is not limited to: a. Initial bed rest with progressive activity b. Back bracing c. Analgesics; or 2. The patient has osteolytic vertebral lesions (i.e., metastases or myeloma) with severe back pain related to a destruction of the vertebral body; and 3. Other causes of pain such as herniated intervertebral disc have been ruled out.
Kyphoplasty and Vertebroplasty 2 4. The severity of pain causes significant immobility and impairment of activities of daily living and/or requires maximal pain management. 5. The affected vertebra has not been extensively damaged and is at least one-third of its original height. 6. All patients with osteoporosis receiving kyphoplasty must be treated medically for osteoporosis to prevent additional fractures. B. Vertebroplasty will be covered (subject to Limitations/ Exclusions and Administrative Guidelines) when any one of the following criteria are met: 1. The patient has osteolytic vertebral lesions (i.e., metastases or myeloma) with severe back pain related to a destruction of the vertebral body; or 2. The patient has vertebral hemangiomas with aggressive clinical signs including severe pain; or 3. The patients has painful vertebral eosinophilic granuloma; and all of the following: 4. Other causes of pain such as herniated intervertebral disc have been ruled out. 5. The severity of pain causes significant immobility and impairment of activities of daily living and/or requires maximal pain management. 6. The affected vertebra has not been extensively damaged and is at least one-third of its original height. III. Limitations/Exclusions A. Vertebroplasty is not covered for osteoporotic compression fracture because randomized controlled trials have not demonstrated that it improves health outcomes (results were no better than the sham control group). B. Kyphoplasty will not be covered for more than three vertebral bodies in a single operative session. C. Peer-reviewed literature for kyphoplasty/vertebroplasty has not been shown to be medically effective for indications other than those listed in this policy. D. Kyphoplasty is contraindicated for compression fractures that are more than one year old. E. Kyphoplasty is not to be performed as prophylaxis for either osteoporosis of the spine or chronic back pain if associated with old, healed compression fracture(s). F. Because of safety concerns, kyphoplasty/vertebroplasty is contraindicated for patients with the following conditions: 1. Uncorrected coagulation disorders; 2. Underlying infection (e.g., osteomyelitis of the involved vertebra); 3. Severe cardiopulmonary disease; 4. Neurological symptoms related to spinal compression; 5. Allergy to any component required for the procedure. 6. Consideration must be given to the extent of the disease, the spinal level involved and previous treatments attempted before considering kyphoplasty/vertebroplasty as an option. 7. In situations when a patient's condition makes the procedure unsafe, or if there will be limited or no significant improvement in activities of daily living, kyphoplasty/vertebroplasty will not be eligible for payment.
Kyphoplasty and Vertebroplasty 3 IV. Administrative Guidelines A. Precertification is required. To precertify, please complete HMSA's Precertification Request and mail or fax the form as indicated. B. The following must be submitted: 1. Documentation showing a high degree of certainty through targeted physical exam and ancillary studies such as x-ray, bone scan, MRI, that the pain is caused by a non-healing fracture. a. Documentation of imaging reports (i.e., x-rays, CT, MRI studies). b. Documentation of bone scan or MRI, if indicated (i.e., if the age of the fracture(s) is indeterminate). 2. An ancillary study confirms that the pain is not caused by the presence of a spinal or disc fragment. 3. The vertebral body height is not less than one-third of its original height. C. CPT code 20225 for a bone biopsy is considered incidental to the kyphoplasty/vertebroplasty procedure and is not payable separately. Inpatient Procedure Code Description 81.65 Percutaneous vertebroplasty 81.66 Percutaneous vertebral augmentation (Kyphoplasty) CPT Codes 22520 Percutaneous vertebroplasty, one vertebral body, unilateral or bilateral injection; thoracic 22521 ;lumbar 22522 ;each additional thoracic or lumbar vertebral body (list separately in addition to code for primary procedure) 22523 Percutaneous vertebral augmentation, including cavity creation (fracture reduction and bone biopsy included when performed) using mechanical device, one vertebral body, unilateral or bilateral cannulation (e.g., kyphoplasty); thoracic 22524 ;lumbar 22525 ;each additional thoracic or lumbar vertebral body (list separately in addition to code for primary procedure) ICD-10 codes are provided for your information. These will not become effective until 10/01/2014: ICD-10 PCS 0PU33JZ, 0PU34JZ 0PU43JZ, 0PU44JZ Description Supplement cervical vertebra with synthetic substitute; code by approach Supplement thoracic vertebra with synthetic substitute, code by approach
Kyphoplasty and Vertebroplasty 4 0QU03JZ, 0QU04JZ Supplement lumbar vertebra with synthetic substitute, code by approach 0QU13JZ, 0QU14JZ Supplement sacrum with synthetic substitute, code by approach V. Important Reminder The purpose of this Medical Policy is to provide a guide to coverage. This Medical Policy is not intended to dictate to providers how to practice medicine. Nothing in this Medical Policy is intended to discourage or prohibit providing other medical advice or treatment deemed appropriate by the treating physician. Benefit determinations are subject to applicable member contract language. To the extent there are any conflicts between these guidelines and the contract language, the contract language will control. This Medical Policy has been developed through consideration of the medical necessity criteria under Hawaii s Patients Bill of Rights and Responsibilities Act (Hawaii Revised Statutes 432E-1.4), generally accepted standards of medical practice and review of medical literature and government approval status. HMSA has determined that services not covered under this Medical Policy will not be medically necessary under Hawaii law in most cases. If a treating physician disagrees with HMSA s determination as to medical necessity in a given case, the physician may request that HMSA reconsider the application of the medical necessity criteria to the case at issue in light of any supporting documentation. VI. References 1. Blue Cross Blue Shield Medical Policy Reference Manual. Percutaneous kyphoplasty. 6.01.38. Accessed September 2012. 2. Blue Cross Blue Shield Technology Assessment Center. Percutaneous vertebroplasty or kyphoplasty for Vertebral fractures caused by osteoporosis. Volume 24; No. 7. April 2010. 3. Buchbinder R, Osborne RH, Ebeling PR, et. al. A randomized trial of vertebroplasty for painful osteoporotic vertebral fractures. NE JM, 2009 Aug 6;361(6):557-68. 4. FDA Public Health Web Notification. Complications related to the use of bone cement in treating compression fractures of the spine. Updated May 7, 2004. http://www.fda.gov/cdrh/safety/bonecement.html 5. Garfin SR. A retrospective review of early outcomes of balloon kyphoplasty, North American Spine Society Proceedings, Seattle, Wash., October 31-November 3, 2001. Abstract 24B. 6. Garfin SR, Yuan HA, Reiley MA. New technologies in spine: kyphoplasty and vertebroplasty for the treatment of painful osteoporotic compression fractures. Spine 2001; 26(14):1511-1515. 7. Halpin R J, Bernard, BS Bendok R, Liu J C. Minimally Invasive Treatments for Spinal Metastases: Vertebroplasty, Kyphoplasty, and Radiofrequency Ablation. The Journal of Supportive Oncology, 2004. 2:4; 339-355. 8. Health Technology Assessment Information Services. Windows on medical technology (2006, March). Percutaneous kyphoplasty for the treatment of vertebral fractures. ECRI HTAIS. Updated March 2006. Issue No. 132. 9. Kallmes DF, Comstock BA, Heagerty PJ, et. al. A randomized trial of vertebroplasty for osteoporotic spinal fractures. NEJM. 2009 Aug 6; 361(6):569-79. 10. Kyphon Inc. Product Information. Available at: http://www.kyphon.com. Last accessed September 2012.
Kyphoplasty and Vertebroplasty 5 11. Lane JM, Giradi F, Khan SN et al. Preliminary outcomes of the first 311 consecutive kyphoplasties for the fixation of painful osteoporotic vertebral compression fractures. International Society for the Study of the Lumbar Spine, 28th Annual Meeting, Edinburgh, Scotland, June 19-23, 2001. Abstract 109. 12. Lane JM, Girardi FP, Khan SN et al. Preliminary outcomes of the first consecutive kyphoplasties for the fixation of painful osteoporotic vertebral compression fractures. J Bone Miner Res 2000; 15(suppl 1):S198 (abstract). 13. Ledlie JT, et al. Balloon kyphoplasty: one-year outcomes in vertebral body height restoration, chronic pain, and activity levels. J Neurosurg: (Spine 1) 2003 Jan; 98:36-42. 14. Lieberman IH, Dudeney S, Reinhardt MK, et al. Initial outcome and efficacy of kyphoplasty in the treatment of painful osteoporotic vertebral compression fractures. Spine 2001; 26(14):1631-1637. 15. National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE), Guidance on balloon kyphoplasty for vertebral compression fractures. IP Guidance Number: IPG166; April 2006. Available at: http://www.nice.org.uk/nicemedia/pdf/ipg166a4updated.pdf. 16. Palmetto GBA LCD for Vertebroplasty, Kyphoplasty; Percutaneous (L27597) 6/3/2011. 17. Staples MP, Kallmes DF, Comstock BA, et. al. Effectiveness of vertebroplasty using individual patient data from two randomised placebo controlled trials: meta-analysis. British Medical Journal. 2011 Jul 12;343:d3952. doi: 10.1136/bmj.d3952. 18. Theodorou DJ, et al. Percutaneous balloon kyphoplasty for the correction of spinal deformity in painful vertebral body compression fractures. Clin Imag 2002 Jan-Feb; 26 (1):1-5. 19. Weill A, Chiras J, Simon JM, Rose M, Sola-Martinez T, Enkaoua E. Spinal metastases: indications for and results of percutaneous injection of acrylic surgical cement. Radiology, Vol 199, 241-247, 1996.