W8520: Arthroscopy of knee (including examination under anaesthetic, washout and biopsy) (as sole procedure)
For guidance only. Always check the code and obtain authorisation from your insurer before treatment. Other insurers may use different codes and coding rules.
Also known as
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 W8520
Neither code can be billed with the other
- AC100: Local anaesthetic by main operator
- S4230: Secondary suture of skin
- W0632: Prosthetic patello-femoral replacement (as sole procedure) – unilateral
- W3110: Osteochondral grafting as a single stage procedure
- W3122: Harvesting for autologous chondrocyte transplantation into knee (including arthroscopy)
- W3123: Implantation of autologous chondrocytes into knee (including knee surgery, debridement and periosteal flap or membrane cover)
- W6913: Total synovectomy of large joint
- W7440: Allograft anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction +/- meniscectomy
- W7492: Lateral release
- W8180: Arthrotomy of small joint (including removal of loose body from joint)
- W8200: Arthroscopic meniscectomy (including debridement) - unilateral
- W8230: Arthroscopic meniscal repair
- W8240: Meniscal allograft transplantation
- W8250: Partial replacement of the meniscus of the knee using a biodegradable scaffold
- W8280: Arthroscopic meniscectomy (including debridement) - bilateral
- W8300: Therapeutic arthroscopy operation on articular cartilage (other than W8200) - unilateral (as sole procedure)
- W8380: Therapeutic arthroscopy operation on articular cartilage (other than W8200) - bilateral (as sole procedure)
- W8580: Multiple arthroscopic operations on knee (including meniscectomy, chondroplasty, drilling or microfracture) - bilateral
- W8600: Therapeutic arthroscopy operation on cavity of joint (not otherwise specified) (as sole procedure)
- W8700: Diagnostic arthroscopic examination of joint, +/- biopsy (not otherwise specified) (as sole procedure)
- W8780: Diagnostic arthroscopic examination of joint, +/- biopsy - bilateral (not otherwise specified) (as sole procedure)
- W9040: Injection(s) +/- aspiration, into joint, cyst, bursa - unilateral
- W9240: Examination/ manipulation of joint under general anaesthetic +/- injection +/- arthrogram (as sole procedure)
- W7420: Autograft anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction without lateral tenodesis +/- meniscectomy
- W5830: Robotic assisted total knee replacement – unilateral +/- cement, +/- patella
- W8500: Multiple arthroscopic operations on knee (including meniscectomy, chondroplasty, drilling or microfracture) - unilateral
- W9030: Injection(s) +/- aspiration, into joint, cyst, bursa with image guidance - unilateral
- W4210: Total prosthetic replacement of knee joint +/- cement +/- patella resurfacing - unilateral
- W9020: Dynamic arthrogram of joint
- W0634: Robotic assisted prosthetic patello-femoral replacement (as sole procedure) – unilateral
W8520 can't be billed with
AXA Health also lists these codes as unacceptable combinations (42)
- W4210: Total prosthetic replacement of knee joint +/- cement +/- patella resurfacing - unilateral
- W0632: Prosthetic patello-femoral replacement (as sole procedure) – unilateral
- S5730: Surgical toilet and debridement of deep wound (including traumatic or post-operative aetiology)
- N1350: Exploration of testis (including biopsy)
- W8230: Arthroscopic meniscal repair
- W9020: Dynamic arthrogram of joint
- W8600: Therapeutic arthroscopy operation on cavity of joint (not otherwise specified) (as sole procedure)
- W8280: Arthroscopic meniscectomy (including debridement) - bilateral
- W7580: Open surgical stabilisation of patella, including soft tissue/tendon transfer or release, +/- application of cast (adult)
- W1660: Tibial osteotomy
- W8180: Arthrotomy of small joint (including removal of loose body from joint)
- W9030: Injection(s) +/- aspiration, into joint, cyst, bursa with image guidance - unilateral
- W8300: Therapeutic arthroscopy operation on articular cartilage (other than W8200) - unilateral (as sole procedure)
- W3122: Harvesting for autologous chondrocyte transplantation into knee (including arthroscopy)
- XR917: Peripherally inserted central venous catheters (PICCs) under X-ray guidance
- W8150: Arthrotomy of large joint (including removal of loose body from joint)
- W8700: Diagnostic arthroscopic examination of joint, +/- biopsy (not otherwise specified) (as sole procedure)
- W9240: Examination/ manipulation of joint under general anaesthetic +/- injection +/- arthrogram (as sole procedure)
- W3123: Implantation of autologous chondrocytes into knee (including knee surgery, debridement and periosteal flap or membrane cover)
- W8500: Multiple arthroscopic operations on knee (including meniscectomy, chondroplasty, drilling or microfracture) - unilateral
- W7492: Lateral release
- W7440: Allograft anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction +/- meniscectomy
- W8380: Therapeutic arthroscopy operation on articular cartilage (other than W8200) - bilateral (as sole procedure)
- W8400: Repair of knee ligaments (open or arthroscopic)
- W8780: Diagnostic arthroscopic examination of joint, +/- biopsy - bilateral (not otherwise specified) (as sole procedure)
- W4244: Tibial liner exchange in total knee replacement
- T5900: Excision of ganglion
- W9040: Injection(s) +/- aspiration, into joint, cyst, bursa - unilateral
- W6913: Total synovectomy of large joint
- A7350: Local anaesthetic blockade of named major nerve or plexus
- W3110: Osteochondral grafting as a single stage procedure
- W2380: Locked intramedullary nailing of fractured long bone
- W5540: Debridement of infected total joint replacement
- W7420: Autograft anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction without lateral tenodesis +/- meniscectomy
- W8200: Arthroscopic meniscectomy (including debridement) - unilateral
- W2830: Removal of internal fixation from bone / joint, excluding K-wires +/- image guidance
- W8240: Meniscal allograft transplantation
- W8580: Multiple arthroscopic operations on knee (including meniscectomy, chondroplasty, drilling or microfracture) - bilateral
- S4230: Secondary suture of skin
- A5210: Epidural injection (lumbar)
- XR910: Insertion of central venous catheter - non-tunnelled (X-ray guided)
- S5210: Injection into subcutaneous tissue/painful trigger point under local anaesthetic
Related codes
- W5300: Bicompartmental knee resurfacing
- W5201: Unicompartmental Knee Replacement - bilateral
- W5200: Unicompartmental knee replacement - unilateral
- W3090: Core decompression of knee
- W8580: Multiple arthroscopic operations on knee (including meniscectomy, chondroplasty, drilling or microfracture) - bilateral
- W8500: Multiple arthroscopic operations on knee (including meniscectomy, chondroplasty, drilling or microfracture) - unilateral
Frequently asked questions
What is the procedure code for arthroscopy of knee (including examination under anaesthetic, washout and biopsy) (as sole procedure)?
The procedure code is W8520: Arthroscopy of knee (including examination under anaesthetic, washout and biopsy) (as sole procedure).
Which insurers list W8520?
W8520 is listed by Bupa, AXA Health, Vitality and WPA. Always confirm the code and cover with your insurer.
Can W8520 be billed with other procedures?
The coding rules say W8520 cannot be billed together with 33 other codes, including AC100 (Local anaesthetic by main operator), S4230 (Secondary suture of skin), W0632 (Prosthetic patello-femoral replacement (as sole procedure) – unilateral). See the full list above.
About the surgeon
Mr Jakub Kozdryk, Consultant Orthopaedic Surgeon, performs hip and knee replacement and revision surgery at Nuffield Health Warwickshire and Circle Meriden Hospital.
Knee replacement with Mr Kozdryk →Book an appointment with Mr Kozdryk →
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