W8600: Therapeutic arthroscopy operation on cavity of joint (not otherwise specified) (as sole procedure)
Current codeBody area: Joints (general)
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 W8600
Neither code can be billed with the other
- W8300: Therapeutic arthroscopy operation on articular cartilage (other than W8200) - unilateral (as sole procedure)
- W5560: OK (Outerbridge and Kashiwagi) procedure
- A7530: Laparoscopic lumbar sympathectomy
- W8700: Diagnostic arthroscopic examination of joint, +/- biopsy (not otherwise specified) (as sole procedure)
- W8380: Therapeutic arthroscopy operation on articular cartilage (other than W8200) - bilateral (as sole procedure)
- W8602: Therapeutic arthroscopy of wrist joint (as sole procedure)
- W8782: Flexible arthroscopy, +/- biopsy (as sole procedure)
- W8230: Arthroscopic meniscal repair
- W8200: Arthroscopic meniscectomy (including debridement) - unilateral
- W8830: Diagnostic arthroscopic examination of wrist joint, +/- biopsy (as sole procedure)
- W8780: Diagnostic arthroscopic examination of joint, +/- biopsy - bilateral (not otherwise specified) (as sole procedure)
- W8180: Arthrotomy of small joint (including removal of loose body from joint)
- W8280: Arthroscopic meniscectomy (including debridement) - bilateral
- W7440: Allograft anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction +/- meniscectomy
- W8250: Partial replacement of the meniscus of the knee using a biodegradable scaffold
- W9111: Manipulation of joint (including intra-articular injection) for Frozen Shoulder" (as sole procedure) - bilateral"
- W9112: Manipulation of joint (including intra-articular injection) for Frozen Shoulder" (as sole procedure)"
- W9240: Examination/ manipulation of joint under general anaesthetic +/- injection +/- arthrogram (as sole procedure)
- W9040: Injection(s) +/- aspiration, into joint, cyst, bursa - unilateral
- W3530: Removal of percutaneous wire
- W8603: Therapeutic arthroscopy of shoulder (as sole procedure)
- W8820: Diagnostic arthroscopic examination of shoulder joint, +/- biopsy (as sole procedure)
- W8520: Arthroscopy of knee (including examination under anaesthetic, washout and biopsy) (as sole procedure)
- W8840: Diagnostic arthroscopic examination of ankle (as sole procedure, including anterior synovectomy to gain vision)
- W7420: Autograft anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction without lateral tenodesis +/- meniscectomy
- W8193: Arthroscopic subacromial decompression
- W8150: Arthrotomy of large joint (including removal of loose body from joint)
- W7713: Primary stabilisation of multi-directional instability of shoulder joint +/- tendon repair
- V2162: Therapeutic arthroscopic operation of temporomandibular joint +/- lysis and/or lavage - bilateral
- V2161: Therapeutic arthroscopic operation of temporomandibular joint +/- lysis and/or lavage - unilateral
- W8500: Multiple arthroscopic operations on knee (including meniscectomy, chondroplasty, drilling or microfracture) - unilateral
- W9020: Dynamic arthrogram of joint
- W8194: Arthroscopic subacromial decompression and excision of distal clavicle (including arthroscopic procedures in glenohumeral joint)
W8600 can't be billed with
- W8580: Multiple arthroscopic operations on knee (including meniscectomy, chondroplasty, drilling or microfracture) - bilateral
- W8890: Diagnostic small-bore needle arthroscopy on cavity of joint (as sole procedure)
- W8646: Multiple arthroscopic operations on ankle (including soft tissue +/- bony +/- joint surface procedures) without ligament reconstruction
AXA Health also lists these codes as unacceptable combinations (66)
- W7713: Primary stabilisation of multi-directional instability of shoulder joint +/- tendon repair
- W1940: Primary open reduction of short bone with fixation (including intra-articular)
- T6580: Tendon graft, or tendon transfer (as sole procedure, not otherwise specified)
- W8640: Complex therapeutic arthroscopy of ankle, with multiple bony, joint surface and soft tissue procedures +/- ligament reconstruction (as sole procedure)
- W8150: Arthrotomy of large joint (including removal of loose body from joint)
- F3440: Tonsillectomy - adult (and bilateral)
- W8630: Therapeutic arthroscopy of ankle with either soft tissue procedure or bony +/or joint surface procedure (as sole procedure)
- T8050: Surgical release of humeral epicondylitis (lateral or medial) (e.g. Tennis Elbow")"
- W0861: Metatarsophalangeal cheilectomy - bilateral, as sole procedure
- W9030: Injection(s) +/- aspiration, into joint, cyst, bursa with image guidance - unilateral
- W0464: Complex procedure to mid foot and hindfoot with autogenous bone graft (osteotomy/fusion +/- tendon transfers, fixation)
- S5210: Injection into subcutaneous tissue/painful trigger point under local anaesthetic
- W8500: Multiple arthroscopic operations on knee (including meniscectomy, chondroplasty, drilling or microfracture) - unilateral
- W0460: Complex procedure to mid foot or hindfoot without autogenous bone graft (osteotomy/fusion +/- tendon transfers)
- W5560: OK (Outerbridge and Kashiwagi) procedure
- W8603: Therapeutic arthroscopy of shoulder (as sole procedure)
- W1590: Correction of retracted/dislocated metatarsophalangeal joint (including tendon transfer, division/realignment of bone and internal fixation)
- W0860: Metatarsophalangeal cheilectomy (as sole procedure) - unilateral
- X4822: Change of cast under general anaesthetic (as sole procedure)
- W3712: Primary total hip replacement – unilateral +/- cement
- W4210: Total prosthetic replacement of knee joint +/- cement +/- patella resurfacing - unilateral
- A7530: Laparoscopic lumbar sympathectomy
- W7492: Lateral release
- W9111: Manipulation of joint (including intra-articular injection) for Frozen Shoulder" (as sole procedure) - bilateral"
- W3530: Removal of percutaneous wire
- W7530: Repair of lateral collateral ligament complex
- W7440: Allograft anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction +/- meniscectomy
- X3770: Intramuscular injection(s) with x-ray control (e.g. piriformis block)
- W9040: Injection(s) +/- aspiration, into joint, cyst, bursa - unilateral
- W8280: Arthroscopic meniscectomy (including debridement) - bilateral
- W7714: Primary open or arthroscopic shoulder stabilisation procedure (including labral/SLAP/tendon repair)
- W8180: Arthrotomy of small joint (including removal of loose body from joint)
- W9020: Dynamic arthrogram of joint
- W7872: Arthroscopic arthrolysis of shoulder contracture +/- manipulation/injection
- W7712: Stabilisation of unidirectional instability of shoulder joint (including anterior, posterior and arthroscopic)
- T7982: Arthroscopic subacromial decompression and rotator cuff repair (including arthroscopic procedures in glenohumeral joint)
- W7486: Carpo-metacarpal joint ligament reconstruction
- W5200: Unicompartmental knee replacement - unilateral
- W9112: Manipulation of joint (including intra-articular injection) for Frozen Shoulder" (as sole procedure)"
- W0632: Prosthetic patello-femoral replacement (as sole procedure) – unilateral
- W8700: Diagnostic arthroscopic examination of joint, +/- biopsy (not otherwise specified) (as sole procedure)
- W8830: Diagnostic arthroscopic examination of wrist joint, +/- biopsy (as sole procedure)
- W8193: Arthroscopic subacromial decompression
- W8782: Flexible arthroscopy, +/- biopsy (as sole procedure)
- W7580: Open surgical stabilisation of patella, including soft tissue/tendon transfer or release, +/- application of cast (adult)
- W2830: Removal of internal fixation from bone / joint, excluding K-wires +/- image guidance
- W8230: Arthroscopic meniscal repair
- W0850: Partial excision of bone (including exostoses)
- W8820: Diagnostic arthroscopic examination of shoulder joint, +/- biopsy (as sole procedure)
- X3750: Botulinum toxin injections to muscle
- W9240: Examination/ manipulation of joint under general anaesthetic +/- injection +/- arthrogram (as sole procedure)
- W6019: Ankle syndesmosis reconstruction
- W8300: Therapeutic arthroscopy operation on articular cartilage (other than W8200) - unilateral (as sole procedure)
- W2100: Primary open reduction of intra-articular fracture of long bone with internal fixation, e.g. proximal humerus or proximal tibia (+/- arthroscopic assistance)
- W8194: Arthroscopic subacromial decompression and excision of distal clavicle (including arthroscopic procedures in glenohumeral joint)
- T5900: Excision of ganglion
- W8380: Therapeutic arthroscopy operation on articular cartilage (other than W8200) - bilateral (as sole procedure)
- W8200: Arthroscopic meniscectomy (including debridement) - unilateral
- V2162: Therapeutic arthroscopic operation of temporomandibular joint +/- lysis and/or lavage - bilateral
- V2161: Therapeutic arthroscopic operation of temporomandibular joint +/- lysis and/or lavage - unilateral
- W8602: Therapeutic arthroscopy of wrist joint (as sole procedure)
- W8840: Diagnostic arthroscopic examination of ankle (as sole procedure, including anterior synovectomy to gain vision)
- W8520: Arthroscopy of knee (including examination under anaesthetic, washout and biopsy) (as sole procedure)
- W8780: Diagnostic arthroscopic examination of joint, +/- biopsy - bilateral (not otherwise specified) (as sole procedure)
- W7420: Autograft anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction without lateral tenodesis +/- meniscectomy
- A7350: Local anaesthetic blockade of named major nerve or plexus
Related codes
- W8680: Therapeutic arthroscopy operation on cavity of joint - bilateral (not otherwise specified) (as sole procedure)
- W8380: Therapeutic arthroscopy operation on articular cartilage (other than W8200) - bilateral (as sole procedure)
- W8300: Therapeutic arthroscopy operation on articular cartilage (other than W8200) - unilateral (as sole procedure)
- W8890: Diagnostic small-bore needle arthroscopy on cavity of joint (as sole procedure)
- W8782: Flexible arthroscopy, +/- biopsy (as sole procedure)
Frequently asked questions
What is the procedure code for therapeutic arthroscopy operation on cavity of joint (not otherwise specified) (as sole procedure)?
The procedure code is W8600: Therapeutic arthroscopy operation on cavity of joint (not otherwise specified) (as sole procedure).
Which insurers list W8600?
W8600 is listed by Bupa, AXA Health, Vitality and WPA. Always confirm the code and cover with your insurer.
Can W8600 be billed with other procedures?
The coding rules say W8600 cannot be billed together with 36 other codes, including W8300 (Therapeutic arthroscopy operation on articular cartilage (other than W8200) - unilateral (as sole procedure)), W5560 (OK (Outerbridge and Kashiwagi) procedure), A7530 (Laparoscopic lumbar sympathectomy). 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