Summary & Overview
CPT 63077: Thoracic Discectomy with Decompression and Interbody Grafting
CPT code 63077 identifies surgical repair of a herniated thoracic disc with decompression of nerve roots or the spinal cord and placement of graft material to fill the intervertebral space. Though thoracic disc herniations are less common than cervical or lumbar cases, the procedure addresses serious symptoms including focal thoracic pain, chest or abdominal radicular pain, and potential myelopathy from cord compression. Nationally, this code represents an important though infrequent neurosurgical and orthopedic spine intervention with implications for surgical utilization, hospital resource use, and post‑operative care pathways.
Key payers covered in this analysis include Aetna, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Cigna Health, UnitedHealthcare, and Medicare. Readers will find an overview of clinical intent and settings for the service, typical sites of care, and benchmarking context where available. The content highlights common billing considerations tied to the procedure type and summarizes what a payer-agnostic reader needs to know about clinical presentation and service delivery. Information on modifiers, associated taxonomies, specific ICD-10 diagnoses, and related billing codes is not included here; see other sections for detailed billing mechanics and payer policies. Data not available in the input is noted where applicable.
Billing Code Overview
CPT code 63077 describes a surgical procedure to repair a herniated thoracic intervertebral disc. The provider decompresses affected nerve roots or the spinal cord by removing all or part of the herniated thoracic disc and uses grafts to fill the space created by the discectomy. Thoracic disc herniation is less common than cervical or lumbar herniation and can cause localized upper back pain, radicular pain to the chest or abdomen, or myelopathy from spinal cord compression.
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Service type: Surgical spinal decompression and interbody grafting for thoracic disc herniation
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Typical site of service: Inpatient or outpatient hospital operating room or ambulatory surgery center, depending on clinical severity and provider decision
Data not available in the input for associated taxonomies, ICD-10 diagnoses, and related codes.
Clinical & Coding Specifications
Clinical Context
A 52-year-old patient presents with progressive mid-thoracic back pain, radicular chest wall pain, and gait disturbance consistent with myelopathy. Imaging (MRI of the thoracic spine) demonstrates a symptomatic herniated thoracic intervertebral disc causing focal spinal cord compression at T7–T8 with corresponding T2 cord signal change. Nonoperative management including analgesics, physical therapy, and epidural steroid injection provided inadequate relief or neurological decline occurred. The surgical plan is a thoracic discectomy with decompression and interbody grafting to restore stability and relieve cord and nerve root compression. Preoperative workflow includes neurosurgical or orthopedic spine consultation, informed consent, pre-op clearance, and baseline neurologic exam; intraoperative steps include prone positioning, fluoroscopic level localization, laminectomy or costotransversectomy as needed, removal of herniated disc material, graft placement (autograft/allograft or cage) to fill disc space, and wound closure. Postoperative care includes neurological checks, pain control, imaging as indicated, and discharge planning with outpatient follow-up and physical therapy as appropriate.
Coding Specifications
| Modifier | Description | When to Use |
|---|---|---|
00 | No modifier / default | Used when no other modifier applies. |
22 |