American Academy of Professional Coders (AAPC) Practice Exam

Disable ads (and more) with a membership for a one time $2.99 payment

Prepare for the American Academy of Professional Coders exam with our comprehensive quiz, featuring multiple-choice questions designed to enhance your coding skills and knowledge. Ideal for aspiring medical coders looking to succeed in the certification process.

Each practice test/flash card set has 50 randomly selected questions from a bank of over 500. You'll get a new set of questions each time!

Practice this question and more.

What type of procedure does the suffix -plasty represent?

Plastic surgery, reconstruction
Surgical removal
Puncture, tap
Surgical creation of an opening

The correct answer is: Plastic surgery, reconstruction

The suffix -plasty signifies a procedure that involves the surgical reconstruction or repair of a tissue or a body part, commonly seen in the context of plastic surgery. It indicates that the procedure aims to restore form and function, often enhancing aesthetic appearance or correcting congenital or acquired deformities. For example, terms like rhinoplasty (nose reshaping) or mammoplasty (breast surgery) exemplify this meaning. The focus is on modifying or reshaping the structure, distinguishing it clearly from other surgical terms that imply removal, puncturing, or creating openings in the body. Thus, understanding -plasty as relating to reconstruction helps coders and medical professionals accurately identify and report these specific procedures in medical documentation and billing.