CPT code 21465 designates open surgical repair of a fracture of the mandibular condyle accessed via a skin incision. This procedure is a principal intervention for displaced condylar fractures of the lower jaw resulting from blunt facial trauma and is relevant to trauma, oral and maxillofacial, and plastic surgery practices nationwide. Accurate coding of 21465 affects claims adjudication, facility utilization, and trauma care pathways across payers.

Key payers covered in the analysis include Aetna, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Cigna Health, UnitedHealthcare, and Medicare. Readers will find a concise overview of clinical indications and typical settings, payer coverage patterns, commonly reported modifiers, and related coding considerations. The publication highlights national benchmarks for utilization and reimbursement patterns where available, summarizes recent policy or coverage updates affecting surgical facial trauma care, and explains clinical context that influences coding decisions, such as operative approach and site of service.

This summary provides clinicians, coding professionals, and policy analysts with the core information needed to understand what CPT code 21465 represents, how it is used in practice, and which payers and settings commonly encounter this procedure. Data not available in the input are noted where applicable.