Certified Outpatient Coder (COC) Practice Exam 2025 – All-in-One Guide for Exam Success!

The coding approach that is used when procedures are performed with an open method and percutaneous assistance is the open approach. This approach is characterized by the surgeon making a larger incision to directly access the surgical site, which allows for full visibility and access to the area being treated. The use of percutaneous assistance—such as the placement of instruments through small incisions—does not change the fact that the primary method of access is open.

In the context of classification, open procedures are distinct from closed or minimally invasive approaches, where less invasive techniques are used. In addition, the assisted approach is not a standard coding term and does not accurately describe this situation since the method remains categorized by the primary technique being utilized, which in this case is open surgery. Therefore, the open approach remains the most appropriate and accurate coding classification for procedures that involve both an open method and percutaneous assistance.