OPS codes have a maximum of six digits; they are not purely numerical but can include (lower-case) letters from the fourth digit onwards. The following notes refer to the presentation of the codes in the print edition or the HTML online version.

Category, class title and code

The central structural element of OPS Tabular List is the three-character category or three-character code. The title of a category is known as the class title. The class title is allocated a three-character notation, the code; in print, it appears on a black background.

Three- and four-character codes

OPS codes start with the chapter number, followed by a dash; the latter is not counted as one of the digits. This is followed by 2 or 3 more digits. To be actually used for encoding, a code requires at least three digits; three-character codes serve as headings and must not be used for encoding.

Five-character codes

The fifth character is separated from the 4th by a dot.

Six-character codes

For six-character codes, a distinction has to be made between precoordinated and postcoordinated codes.

Precoordinated six-character codes

Precoordinated six-character codes are explicitly named in the code. However, complete six-character codes are not shown for a five-character code, if there is further differentiation for the sixth digit. To maintain clarity, an indented list only shows the fifth and sixth digit with preceding dot. Instead of the complete code "5-010.00 Kalotte" (calotte) only ".00 Kalotte" is shown.

Postcoordinates six-character codes

Postcoordinated codes are assembled by the encoder from subclassification lists in accordance with a note ("Hinw.:", Hinweis). They are denoted by a double asterisk after the code.

In our example, the five-character code marked with a double asterisk has to be expanded by a sixth digit according to the note. The sixth digit can take a value from the list, i.e. 0, 1 or x ; there will be a note if a particular combination - e.g. fifth digit 0 and sixth digit 1 - is not possible. The purpose of this is to combine divisions that are the same and to avoid redundancies. A list that applies to more than one four-character category is placed before the first category, with references to the list within each of the four-character categories. (Double arrows indicate the requirement of an additional marker for the particular side. More on this below.)

Alphanumeric codes

In three instances, letters as well as numbers are used from the fourth digit:

• Categories "Sonstige" (other) and "N.n.bez." ("nicht näher bezeichnet", not elsewhere classified) are indicated by the letters x or y; this retains two numerical digits for specific content.

• If more than 10 subcodes exist and the numbers 0 to 9 are not sufficient for the specific content, the list is continued with the letters a, b, c...

• A four-character code with an x in fourth place and a non-specific class title such as "andere" (other) measures is a placeholder code, e.g. for future developments.

Terminal codes

A code without subcodes is referred to as a terminal code. Only terminal codes may be used for encoding. This ensures that encoding is always as specific as possible. The demand for specific encoding also entails that categories such as "Sonstige" (ohers) or "N.n.bez." ("nicht näher bezeichnet", not elsewhere classified) are only used in cases where there is actually no documentation of specific information.

Class attributes and other elements, terms and symbols of a code

Inclusion notes are prefaced with "Inkl.:" ("Inklusivum") and contain more detailed information on the content of the code or example of issues falling under this code.

Exclusion notes are prefaced with "Exkl.:" ("Exklusivum") and list measures that do not fall under the code in question; the applicable code is given in brackets. If no code is provided, the measure cannot be encoded.

Notes are prefaced with "Hinw.:" ("Hinweis") and provide information on the application of the code. They indicate when the code can be used or when additional or separate encoding is required for components of a complex intervention, additional information on the intervention or the access for an intervention.

The class attributes inclusion notess and exclusion notes as well as notes apply to all their subordinate hierarchical levels; i.e. a note provided for a three-character category also applies to all four-, five- and six-character codes of this category. For every six-character code, it thus needs to be checked whether there are any relevant inclusion notes, exclusion notes or notes in the hierarchical levels superordinate to the code in question.

And following ("ff."): In exclusions and notes of a code, reference can be made to individual codes or to code groups. "ff." after a non-terminal code means in this case that the following refers to all subordinate terminal codes of this code group: "1-63 ff." refers to all codes from 1-630.0 to 1-63b, "1-212 ff." to all codes subordinate to 1-212, i.e.1-212.0 to 1-212.y.

Double arrows ↔ indicate codes for which an additional marker is obligatory as an indication of side for measures on paired organs: (R for right, L for left, B for bilateral).

Double asterisks ** indicate five-character codes that need to have a sixth digit added from a list of extensions.

Round brackets () contain optional elements in the names of procedures; their presence or absence has no impact on the encoding.

Square brackets [] contain synonyms or alternative spellings of a procedure's name.

"And" in class titles of three- or four-character codes is used as meaning "and/or".