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CPT 22510: Cervicothoracic Vertebroplasty, Image-Guided
CPT code 22510 represents cervicothoracic vertebroplasty — a minimally invasive spinal procedure in which bone cement is injected into a fractured vertebral body in the neck and upper back under imaging guidance, sometimes combined with a diagnostic bone biopsy. Nationally, this code captures care for patients with osteoporotic compression fractures or traumatic compression injuries when nonoperative management is inadequate. The code matters due to its role in addressing pain, stabilizing vertebrae, and potentially reducing morbidity in older adults.
Key payers covered in standard analyses include Aetna, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Cigna Health, UnitedHealthcare and Medicare. Readers will find a concise clinical and billing context for CPT code 22510, plus an overview of common sites of service and service type. The publication outlines typical billing considerations and common modifier usage (listed separately), and summarizes what to expect in payer coverage patterns and claims processing workflows. It also provides clinical context about indications and the imaging-guided nature of the procedure.
This summary is intended for a national audience of providers, coders, and policy analysts seeking a clear, practical reference to CPT code 22510, its clinical application, and the payer landscape relevant to vertebroplasty in the cervicothoracic spine.
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Billing Code Overview
CPT code 22510 describes a cervicothoracic vertebroplasty, a surgical procedure to stabilize a fractured vertebra in the cervicothoracic (neck and upper back) spine, typically performed by injecting bone cement into the vertebral body under imaging guidance. The procedure is commonly used to treat osteoporotic compression fractures or other vertebral compression injuries when conservative treatment has failed, and may include a bone biopsy for diagnostic purposes.
Service Type: Minimally invasive spinal surgical procedure (vertebroplasty) with image guidance
Typical Site of Service: Hospital inpatient or outpatient surgical center with fluoroscopic or CT imaging capabilities