Summary & Overview
CPT 24155: Excision of Elbow Joint (Distal Humerus, Proximal Radius/Ulna)
CPT code 24155 designates surgical excision of the distal humerus and proximal radius and ulna that together comprise the elbow joint. This operative service is clinically significant for management of advanced joint disease, severe trauma, or other conditions where removal of the elbow articular surfaces is indicated. Nationally, services of this scope have implications for surgical resource use, post-operative rehabilitation, and payer coverage policies.
Key payers addressed in this publication include Aetna, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Cigna Health, UnitedHealthcare, and Medicare. The analysis covers typical sites of service, clinical context, and the role of this procedure within orthopedic surgical practice.
Readers will learn the clinical description and common care settings for CPT code 24155, an overview of payer considerations and coverage patterns, and context for billing and service-line classification. The publication provides benchmarks and policy summaries relevant to hospital and ambulatory surgery settings, plus a concise clinical context to inform coding and administrative workflows. Data not available in the input is noted where applicable.
Billing Code Overview
CPT code 24155 describes a surgical procedure in which the provider excises the distal humerus and the proximal radius and ulna that together form the elbow joint. The service involves removal of the bony articular surfaces of the elbow, typically as part of procedures addressing severe joint destruction, pain, or deformity.
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Service type: Surgical excision of elbow joint components
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Typical site of service: Hospital operating room or ambulatory surgery center
Clinical & Coding Specifications
Clinical Context
A typical patient is an adult with severe, irreparable elbow joint pathology such as advanced post‑traumatic arthritis with joint destruction, ankylosis, chronic infection refractory to conservative care, or tumor involvement requiring resection of the articular distal humerus and proximal radius/ulna. The patient often presents with severe pain, loss of elbow range of motion, instability, or nonfunctional limb. Preoperative workup includes history and physical, radiographs and CT or MRI as indicated, infection workup (labs, cultures), and discussion of surgical risks and goals.
Surgical workflow: the patient is brought to the operating room, positioned supine or lateral with arm table, and regional anesthesia and/or general anesthesia is provided. A posterior or extensile lateral approach to the elbow is used; the distal humerus articular segment and the proximal radial head and proximal ulna articular surfaces are exposed and excised to remove the joint surfaces and any diseased bone. Hemostasis and irrigation are performed; reconstruction, arthroplasty, interposition, or soft tissue stabilization may follow depending on operative plan. Closure and postoperative immobilization are performed. Postoperative care includes pain control, wound care, early range of motion per surgeon protocol, and physical therapy when indicated. Typical site of service is an inpatient or ambulatory hospital surgical suite depending on comorbidity and procedure complexity.
Coding Specifications
| Modifier | Description | When to Use |
|---|---|---|
22 |