Medical Coding

Answer: A - The correct code for the plastic repair of cleft lip with nasal deformity when utilizing an Abbe-Estlander cross-lip pedicle flap is 40527 (Excision of Lip; Full Thickness, Reconstruction with Cross-Lip Flap (Abbe-Estlander)). In parenthesis under code 40761 for plastic repair of cleft lip/nasal deformity, it notes that if using the Abbe-Estlander type repair, use the 40527 code. Code 42200 is only used for the repair of a cleft palate.