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    v1.0.28
    OpenPayerBilling CodesDiseases and Disorders of the Musculoskeletal System and Connective TissueDRG 487-knee-procedures-with-principal-diagnosis-of-infection-without-cc-mcc
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    Knee Procedures with Principal Diagnosis of Infection without CC/MCC: Inpatient Reimbursement Overview

    DRG 487 covers knee procedures where the principal diagnosis is infection without Complication or Comorbidity or Major Complication or Comorbidity and groups cases by similar resource use for inpatient reimbursement. This classification matters because principal diagnosis selection and documentation of complications or comorbidities determine Medicare payment levels for knee infection admissions.

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    DRG 487 Overview

    DRG 487 covers inpatient cases for knee procedures performed when the principal diagnosis is an infection and there are no Complication or Comorbidity or Major Complication or Comorbidity present. Typical clinical scenarios include debridement, irrigation, and synovectomy for septic arthritis or infected total knee arthroplasty without additional coded complications. This Diagnosis-Related Group groups similar resource use to set a prospective payment amount under Medicare, so accurate coding of the infection as the principal diagnosis and the absence of Complication or Comorbidity or Major Complication or Comorbidity affect reimbursement. Proper assignment influences hospital payment relative to other knee procedure Diagnosis-Related Groups with higher-acuity comorbidity designations.

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    Clinical Trials

    • Acute surgical and antimicrobial timing trials: studies investigating optimal timing and sequence of surgical debridement or irrigation and drainage relative to initiation and duration of intravenous antimicrobial therapy for patients admitted with infected knee prostheses or native septic arthritis. These trials enroll inpatients presenting with acute knee infection, often stratified by prosthetic vs native joint involvement and severity at presentation, and measure metrics such as time to infection control, need for repeat operations, length of stay, and in-hospital complications. Findings are highly relevant to surgeons, infectious disease teams, and payers because they can inform protocols that reduce readmissions, lower procedure counts, and shorten costly hospital stays.
    • Comparative effectiveness studies of surgical approaches and implant management: randomized or observational comparative studies evaluating outcomes of procedures such as one-stage versus two-stage prosthetic knee exchange, debridement with implant retention versus revision, or arthroscopic versus open drainage in native joint infections. These studies focus on subpopulations defined by prosthesis status, organism virulence, and host risk factors (immunosuppression, comorbidities), tracking outcomes like infection eradication, functional recovery, reoperation rates, and total inpatient resources used. Results guide clinicians and payers in selecting resource-intense strategies that balance durable infection control and functional outcomes against cost, length of stay, and likelihood of subsequent hospitalizations.
    • Post-discharge outcomes and care-pathway studies: prospective cohort or pragmatic trials examining post-hospital transitions such as outpatient parenteral antimicrobial therapy (OPAT) protocols, home health support, and rehabilitation pathways for patients discharged after treatment for knee infection. These studies target typical discharge populations (patients completing long antibiotic courses, those with staged reconstructions, or with post-op wound-care needs) and evaluate readmission rates, catheter-related complications, adherence to therapy, functional status at 90 days, and overall downstream costs. Insights from this research inform discharge planning, utilization of home infusion or skilled nursing services, and payer policies aimed at reducing readmissions and total episode-of-care spending.

    Related Codes

    402-SINGLE-LEVEL-COMBINED-ANTERIOR-AND-POSTERIOR-SPINAL-FUSION-EXCEPT-CERVICAL

    Single Level Combined Anterior and Posterior Spinal Fusion Except Cervical: Inpatient Reimbursement Overview

    426-MULTIPLE-LEVEL-COMBINED-ANTERIOR-AND-POSTERIOR-SPINAL-FUSION-EXCEPT-CERVICAL-WITH-MCC-OR-CUSTOM-MADE-ANATOMICALLY-DESIGNED-INTERBODY-FUSION-DEVICE

    Multiple Level Combined Anterior and Posterior Spinal Fusion Except Cervical with MCC or Custom-Made Anatomically Designed Interbody Fusion Device: Inpatient Reimbursement Overview

    427-MULTIPLE-LEVEL-COMBINED-ANTERIOR-AND-POSTERIOR-SPINAL-FUSION-EXCEPT-CERVICAL-WITH-CC

    Multiple Level Combined Anterior and Posterior Spinal Fusion Except Cervical with CC: Inpatient Reimbursement Overview

    428-MULTIPLE-LEVEL-COMBINED-ANTERIOR-AND-POSTERIOR-SPINAL-FUSION-EXCEPT-CERVICAL-WITHOUT-CC-MCC

    Multiple Level Combined Anterior and Posterior Spinal Fusion Except Cervical without CC/MCC: Inpatient Reimbursement Overview

    429-COMBINED-ANTERIOR-AND-POSTERIOR-CERVICAL-SPINAL-FUSION-WITH-MCC

    Combined Anterior and Posterior Cervical Spinal Fusion with MCC: Inpatient Reimbursement Overview

    430-COMBINED-ANTERIOR-AND-POSTERIOR-CERVICAL-SPINAL-FUSION-WITHOUT-MCC

    Combined Anterior and Posterior Cervical Spinal Fusion without MCC: Inpatient Reimbursement Overview

    447-MULTIPLE-LEVEL-SPINAL-FUSION-EXCEPT-CERVICAL-WITH-MCC-OR-CUSTOM-MADE-ANATOMICALLY-DESIGNED-INTERBODY-FUSION-DEVICE

    Multiple Level Spinal Fusion Except Cervical with MCC: Inpatient Reimbursement Overview

    448-MULTIPLE-LEVEL-SPINAL-FUSION-EXCEPT-CERVICAL-WITHOUT-MCC

    Multiple Level Spinal Fusion Except Cervical without MCC: Inpatient Reimbursement Overview

    450-SINGLE-LEVEL-SPINAL-FUSION-EXCEPT-CERVICAL-WITH-MCC-OR-CUSTOM-MADE-ANATOMICALLY-DESIGNED-INTERBODY-FUSION-DEVICE

    Single Level Spinal Fusion Except Cervical with MCC or Custom-Made Device: Inpatient Reimbursement Overview

    451-SINGLE-LEVEL-SPINAL-FUSION-EXCEPT-CERVICAL-WITHOUT-MCC

    Single Level Spinal Fusion Except Cervical without MCC: Inpatient Reimbursement Overview

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    References

    1. 1.CPT® Codes and Descriptions. AAPC. Retrieved Aug 11, 2026.Maintains the CPT code set's official descriptions and guidelines, licensed from the American Medical Association, used as the definitional source for CPT codes on this page.
    2. 2.HCPCS Quarterly Update. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). Retrieved Aug 11, 2026.CMS's quarterly release of HCPCS Level II codes and short/long descriptors, the source for HCPCS code definitions and update history.
    3. 3.ICD-10-CM Full Code List. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). Retrieved Aug 11, 2026.CMS's complete ICD-10-CM diagnosis code list, used to cross-reference diagnosis codes associated with this procedure or service.
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