UNSPSC 85721233: Removal of external fixation device from left tarsal joint, external approach

This classification denotes the group of activities that yields a surgical intervention or procedure to removal of external fixation device from left tarsal joint, external approach. This surgical intervention or procedure is listed in the World Health Organization's International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems or ICD-10 as code 0SPJX5Z

UNSPSC 85721233 Removal of external fixation device from left tarsal joint, external approach is a Commodity code whose title does not align with recent state and local contract activity. The code's nominal scope describes a specific orthopedic surgical procedure, yet the recent opportunities posted under this code document requests for independent medical evaluation services, occupational health surveillance, surgical benefits administration, pharmacy benefit management, and temporary health professional staffing—none of which involve removal of external fixation devices or orthopedic procedural care. The mismatch suggests either a cataloging error on the part of issuing bodies or a fundamental misalignment between the code's clinical descriptor and how state and local procurement offices are using the taxonomy to solicit health services contracts.

The recent opportunities span multiple issuing bodies—the City of Phoenix Retirement Office, the City of Long Beach, the Washington State Department of Transportation (on behalf of Washington State Ferries), Harris County Juvenile Probation Department, Collier County Board of County Commissioners, and the County of Santa Clara Health System—across Arizona, California, Washington, and Florida. Representative recent solicitations include Phoenix's RFP for independent medical evaluation services for public safety pension disability determinations (due October 16, 2026), Long Beach's RFP for surgical procedure carve-out benefits under its Anthem PPO plan (due October 7, 2026), WSDOT's RFQ for occupational medical surveillance across 14 Washington ferry system locations (due October 9, 2026), and Santa Clara Health System's RFQ to establish a vendor pool for temporary health professional staffing in ancillary clinical categories (due October 7, 2026). The code shows little relevant recent activity tied to its stated clinical procedure scope; vendors should verify that opportunities tagged with this code genuinely require the orthopedic service described or consider whether a different UNSPSC code would better capture the health services work actually being solicited.