Summary & Overview
CPT 01173: Anesthesia for Open Pelvic/Acetabular Fracture Repair
CPT code 01173 represents anesthesia care for open repair of pelvic fractures or column fractures involving the acetabulum. This anesthesia-specific code captures perioperative anesthetic management for complex, high-acuity orthopedic procedures on the pelvis and acetabulum, services that are resource-intensive and commonly performed in hospital operating rooms. Nationally, accurate coding of these procedures affects payment, quality measurement, and care coordination for trauma and orthopedic surgery programs. Key payers in the analysis include Aetna, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Cigna Health, United Healthcare, and Medicare. Readers will find a concise explanation of the code's clinical intent and service setting, a summary of commonly associated modifiers and clinical taxonomies, and links to closely related surgical and procedural codes used in pelvic and lower-extremity orthopedic care. The publication also highlights typical diagnostic pairings and related surgical CPT codes to aid clinical documentation and billing alignment. Data not available in the input for payer-specific reimbursement rates or utilization benchmarks is not included.
Billing Code Overview
CPT code 01173 describes anesthesia services provided for a patient undergoing open repair of fracture disruption of the pelvis or of column fracture involving the acetabulum. The service type is anesthesia for major orthopedic pelvic/acetabular fracture repair. The typical site of service is an inpatient or hospital-based operating room where open orthopedic pelvic or acetabular fracture reconstruction is performed.
Clinical & Coding Specifications
Clinical Context
A 62-year-old male presents with a displaced pelvic fracture involving the acetabulum after a motor vehicle collision. He is scheduled for an open reduction and internal fixation (ORIF) of the pelvic ring and acetabular column under general anesthesia. Preoperative evaluation in the preoperative clinic documents a history of right knee osteoarthritis with a prior right total knee arthroplasty (Z96.651), well-controlled hypertension, and ASA physical status P3. The anesthesia team (anesthesiologist or Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist) conducts a focused airway assessment, reviews imaging and baseline labs, obtains informed consent for anesthesia risks, and plans for arterial line placement and possible central venous access due to anticipated blood loss and potential prolonged case duration.
Intraoperative workflow includes induction of general endotracheal anesthesia, placement of invasive monitoring, standardized multimodal analgesia including regional nerve block or neuraxial adjunct if indicated, active warming, fluid and blood product management, and coordination with the surgical team for timed additional procedures. Postoperatively the patient is transferred to the post-anesthesia care unit (PACU) with orders for pain control, thromboprophylaxis, and monitoring for hemorrhage or hemodynamic instability. If extended postoperative anesthesia care is needed (e.g., return to OR for revision), appropriate anesthesia modifiers and documentation are applied.
Coding Specifications
| Modifier | Description | When to Use |
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