W5722: Excision reconstruction of small joint
For guidance only. Always check the code and obtain authorisation from your insurer before treatment. Other insurers may use different codes and coding rules.
For guidance only. Procedure codes and descriptions on this site are provided for general guidance only and are not a guarantee of insurance cover or payment. Always check the correct code with your surgeon's secretary and obtain authorisation from your insurer before treatment. Insurers shown are examples only. Other insurers are available, and each may use the same, similar or different codes and coding rules.
Insurer listing
| Insurer | Status | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Bupa | Listed | Listed by Bupa |
| AXA Health | Listed | Listed by AXA Health |
| Vitality | Listed | Listed by Vitality |
| WPA | Listed | Listed by WPA |
Codes that can't be billed with W5722
Neither code can be billed with the other
- W8782: Flexible arthroscopy, +/- biopsy (as sole procedure)
- W4200: Complex primary total knee replacement (i.e. including bone graft, augmentation or osteotomy)
- W3944: Acetabular liner and head changes
- W3733: Revision of total hip replacement (including insertion of reconstruction rings, plates, screws, etc., and/or impaction bone grafting to acetabulum and/or femur) - unilateral
- W3732: Revision of uncemented or cemented total hip replacement without adjunctive procedures - unilateral
- W3714: Total hip replacement, +/- cement, after excision arthroplasty or arthrodesis (including conversion of hemiarthroplasty or revision of other previous hip surgery which involved internal fixation)
- W3713: Complex primary total hip replacement (including bone grafting or femoral osteotomy)
- S4230: Secondary suture of skin
- W5201: Unicompartmental Knee Replacement - bilateral
- T7910: Open subacromial decompression and rotator cuff repair +/- excision of distal clavicle
- W9240: Examination/ manipulation of joint under general anaesthetic +/- injection +/- arthrogram (as sole procedure)
- W3943: Removal of total hip replacement and complete clearance of cement
- W9040: Injection(s) +/- aspiration, into joint, cyst, bursa - unilateral
- W5830: Robotic assisted total knee replacement – unilateral +/- cement, +/- patella
- W3720: Robotic assisted total hip replacement - unilateral +/- cement
- W4210: Total prosthetic replacement of knee joint +/- cement +/- patella resurfacing - unilateral
- W9020: Dynamic arthrogram of joint
- W3744: Robotic assisted revision of total hip replacement - unilateral
- W3745: Robotic assisted revision of total hip replacement (inclduing insertion of reconstruction rings, plates, screws +/- impaction bonegrafting to acetabulum +/- femur) - unilateral
- W3712: Primary total hip replacement – unilateral +/- cement
- W8194: Arthroscopic subacromial decompression and excision of distal clavicle (including arthroscopic procedures in glenohumeral joint)
- W5821: Robotic assisted unicompartmental knee replacement - bilateral
- W9030: Injection(s) +/- aspiration, into joint, cyst, bursa with image guidance - unilateral
W5722 can't be billed with
- W5800: Conversion of a unicompartmental knee replacement to a total replacement of knee joint
- W4244: Tibial liner exchange in total knee replacement
- W5831: Robotic assisted total knee replacement - bilateral +/- cement, +/- patella
- W3751: Customised unilateral hip replacement
- W3721: Robotic assisted total hip replacement - bilateral +/- cement
AXA Health also lists these codes as unacceptable combinations (21)
- W3733: Revision of total hip replacement (including insertion of reconstruction rings, plates, screws, etc., and/or impaction bone grafting to acetabulum and/or femur) - unilateral
- W9020: Dynamic arthrogram of joint
- T7910: Open subacromial decompression and rotator cuff repair +/- excision of distal clavicle
- W5201: Unicompartmental Knee Replacement - bilateral
- W8194: Arthroscopic subacromial decompression and excision of distal clavicle (including arthroscopic procedures in glenohumeral joint)
- W9240: Examination/ manipulation of joint under general anaesthetic +/- injection +/- arthrogram (as sole procedure)
- W4200: Complex primary total knee replacement (i.e. including bone graft, augmentation or osteotomy)
- W3714: Total hip replacement, +/- cement, after excision arthroplasty or arthrodesis (including conversion of hemiarthroplasty or revision of other previous hip surgery which involved internal fixation)
- S4230: Secondary suture of skin
- W3712: Primary total hip replacement – unilateral +/- cement
- W8602: Therapeutic arthroscopy of wrist joint (as sole procedure)
- A7350: Local anaesthetic blockade of named major nerve or plexus
- W8782: Flexible arthroscopy, +/- biopsy (as sole procedure)
- W9030: Injection(s) +/- aspiration, into joint, cyst, bursa with image guidance - unilateral
- W3734: Second, third or further revision total hip replacement (excluding acetabular liner and head changes)
- W3713: Complex primary total hip replacement (including bone grafting or femoral osteotomy)
- W3944: Acetabular liner and head changes
- W3732: Revision of uncemented or cemented total hip replacement without adjunctive procedures - unilateral
- W9040: Injection(s) +/- aspiration, into joint, cyst, bursa - unilateral
- W4210: Total prosthetic replacement of knee joint +/- cement +/- patella resurfacing - unilateral
- W3943: Removal of total hip replacement and complete clearance of cement
Related codes
- W5723: Excision reconstruction of large joint
- W8180: Arthrotomy of small joint (including removal of loose body from joint)
- W6912: Total synovectomy of small joint
- W8890: Diagnostic small-bore needle arthroscopy on cavity of joint (as sole procedure)
- W7400: Reconstruction of one or two ligaments not elsewhere specified
Frequently asked questions
What is the procedure code for excision reconstruction of small joint?
The procedure code is W5722: Excision reconstruction of small joint.
Which insurers list W5722?
W5722 is listed by Bupa, AXA Health, Vitality and WPA. Always confirm the code and cover with your insurer.
Can W5722 be billed with other procedures?
The coding rules say W5722 cannot be billed together with 28 other codes, including W8782 (Flexible arthroscopy, +/- biopsy (as sole procedure)), W4200 (Complex primary total knee replacement (i.e. including bone graft, augmentation or osteotomy)), W3944 (Acetabular liner and head changes). See the full list above.
What does my procedure code mean?
For guidance only. Procedure codes and descriptions on this site are provided for general guidance only and are not a guarantee of insurance cover or payment. Always check the correct code with your surgeon's secretary and obtain authorisation from your insurer before treatment. Insurers shown are examples only. Other insurers are available, and each may use the same, similar or different codes and coding rules.
Codes and descriptions are for guidance only. Insurer listing and cover information is taken from each insurer's published schedule and is for guidance only: always confirm the code and cover with the insurer before treatment. This site is not affiliated with CCSD or any insurer. No fees are shown.
Last checked: 2026-10-01