Meniscectomy

The menisci are two C-shaped fibrocartilage discs (medial and lateral) that sit between the femur and tibia, distributing load and stabilizing the knee joint. When a meniscal tear cannot be sutured back together—due to tear pattern, tissue quality, or location in the avascular zone—the surgeon removes the unstable fragment rather than attempting repair. This is meniscectomy.

The procedure is almost always performed arthroscopically through small portals. The surgeon trims or excises the torn portion while preserving as much healthy meniscal tissue as possible. The extent of resection determines which CPT code applies: 29881 covers meniscectomy in one compartment (medial OR lateral), and 29880 covers both compartments in the same knee. Since 2012, both codes incorporate debridement or shaving of articular cartilage (chondroplasty) whether that work occurs in the same or a different compartment—chondroplasty is no longer separately billable alongside these codes.

From a documentation standpoint, every operative report must specify laterality (right vs. left knee), which compartment(s) were treated, the nature of the tear, and the extent of tissue removed. These details drive both code selection and ICD-10 diagnosis specificity, and their absence is one of the most common triggers for claim denial or payer audit.

Selecting the wrong meniscectomy code—or failing to document laterality and compartment—directly affects reimbursement and audit exposure. Billing 29881 twice for bilateral compartments in the same knee instead of stepping up to 29880 is an NCCI edit violation. Conversely, billing chondroplasty as a separate line item alongside 29880 or 29881 violates bundling rules and invites recoupment. Medicare assigns CPT 29881 a total RVU of 10.89 under the 2026 Physician Fee Schedule, and geographic cost adjustments mean the same procedure can reimburse at meaningfully different rates across localities—accurate code selection is the floor, not the ceiling, of appropriate reimbursement.