The ICD-9-CM-3 does not provide a specific definition for patellar stabilization procedures.According to the index,the code 81.44 for patellar stabilization surgery encompasses Roux-Goldthwait procedure,Ellison procedure,and Hauser procedure.Clinically,surgical strategies for patellar dislocation vary on the etiology,but the purpose remains the same,which is to sustain the stability of the patella.As a surgical method for the treatment of patellar dislocation,patellar stabilization can be a single procedure or a combination of procedures,collectively referred to as a series of procedures aimed at restoring its stability.Acromioclavicular joint stabilization and distal tibiofibular syndesmosis elastic fixation are new surgical methods for maintaining joint micromotion function by using loop plate fixation.When coders encounter dominant terms that cannot be retrieved in refer-ence books during coding,they can refer to the clinical classification method of the surgical procedure for the disease,and then integrate surgical records and the ICD reference books to determine the dominant word for finding the code.This approach com-plies with the coding rules and can accurately mirror the clinical practice,ensuring the accuracy of classification.