Summary & Overview
CPT 63307: Excision of Vertebral Body for Intradural Lumbar/Sacral Lesion
CPT code 63307 denotes a specialized spinal surgery: partial or complete excision of the main body of a single vertebra to remove an intradural lesion in the lumbar or sacral spine, performed via a transperitoneal or retroperitoneal approach. This code captures a high-complexity operative intervention that is clinically significant for patients with intradural spinal tumors or lesions that require direct vertebral body access. Nationally, the procedure is relevant to hospital surgical services and spine surgery programs and has implications for inpatient and ambulatory surgical center workflows, case mix, and resource utilization.
Key payers included in this analysis are Aetna, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Cigna Health, UnitedHealthcare, and Medicare. Readers will find a concise overview of what CPT code 63307 represents, clinical context for when the procedure is used, and the typical sites of service. The publication outlines benchmarking and billing considerations, common modifiers, and related coding topics where available. It also summarizes policy or reimbursement factors that commonly affect high-complexity spine procedures and highlights areas for clinical documentation focus. Data not available in the input is noted where relevant.
Billing Code Overview
CPT code 63307 describes a surgical procedure in which the provider performs a partial or complete excision of the main body of a single vertebra to remove an intradural lesion located in the lumbar or sacral spine. The procedure may be performed via a transperitoneal approach (through the abdomen) or a retroperitoneal approach (through the back) depending on clinical considerations and lesion location.
Service Type: Surgical excision of vertebral body for intradural lumbar/sacral lesion
Typical Site of Service: Inpatient or outpatient surgical setting, commonly an operating room within a hospital or ambulatory surgical center
Clinical & Coding Specifications
Clinical Context
A 54-year-old patient presents with progressive lower back pain, sciatica, and new-onset lower extremity weakness. MRI of the lumbar spine demonstrates an intradural, extramedullary lesion at the L2 vertebral level causing compression of the cauda equina. Neurological deficits and radiographic cord/nerve root compression indicate surgical removal. The surgical team plans a laminectomy and partial or complete vertebrectomy via a transperitoneal or retroperitoneal approach to expose the intradural space and resect the lesion. Preoperative workflow includes neurosurgical evaluation, anesthesia assessment, informed consent, preoperative imaging review, and possible intrathecal studies. Intraoperative steps include general anesthesia, positioning (prone or lateral for retroperitoneal/transperitoneal access), vascular control as needed, removal of the vertebral body (partial or complete) at a single level, dural exposure, intradural lesion resection, dural repair, and spinal stabilization as required. Postoperative care involves ICU or PACU monitoring, pain control, neurological checks, wound care, and coordination for postoperative rehabilitation or adjuvant oncologic therapy if indicated. Typical site of service is an inpatient hospital operating room; the service type is major invasive spine surgery for intradural lumbar/sacral lesion excision.
Coding Specifications
| Modifier | Description | When to Use |
|---|---|---|
62 | Two surgeons | When two surgeons with distinct specialties simultaneously perform portions of the procedure requiring equal skill (e.g., neurosurgeon and orthopedic spine surgeon). |