Summary & Overview
CPT 24300: Elbow Manipulation Under Anesthesia
CPT code 24300 denotes intraoperative elbow manipulation performed under anesthesia to restore full range of motion after injury. Nationally, this procedure is a targeted orthopedic intervention used when conservative measures have failed or when stiffness follows trauma or surgery. It matters because timely restoration of joint motion can reduce long-term disability and influence downstream care utilization and rehabilitation needs. Key payers commonly covering this service include Aetna, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Cigna Health, UnitedHealthcare, and Medicare. This publication provides a concise clinical and billing overview of CPT code 24300, summarizes expected sites of service, and identifies areas where payers and clinicians commonly focus validation and documentation efforts. Readers will find practical context on the clinical purpose of the procedure, the typical care setting, and what to expect in payer coverage patterns. The report also flags where data are limited and points readers to sections with benchmarking, policy updates, and clinical considerations when available. Data not available in the input is noted where applicable.
Billing Code Overview
CPT code 24300 describes a surgical procedure in which the provider evaluates and manipulates the elbow joint while the patient is under anesthesia to restore or enable full range of motion following an injury. This service is a procedural orthopedic intervention focused on improving elbow mobility after traumatic limitation or postoperative stiffness.
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Service type: Intraoperative elbow joint manipulation under anesthesia
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Typical site of service: Hospital operating room or ambulatory surgical center
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Clinical & Coding Specifications
Clinical Context
A typical patient is a 35–60-year-old adult who sustained an elbow injury (e.g., displaced fracture, post‑traumatic soft tissue contracture, or postoperative stiffness) and now has limited flexion and/or extension despite prior immobilization and therapy. The patient is scheduled for an intraoperative elbow manipulation under anesthesia to restore full range of motion. Preoperative workflow includes history and exam confirming loss of motion, review of radiographs or CT to ensure fracture union or absence of loose bodies, informed consent, anesthesia evaluation, and perioperative antibiotics per facility protocol. In the operating room the patient is placed under general anesthesia or regional block, the elbow is examined and then carefully manipulated through passive range of motion by the surgeon to break adhesions or remodel periarticular tissues. Postoperative workflow includes neurovascular checks, pain control, splinting or dynamic bracing as indicated, initiation of supervised physical therapy within days, and follow‑up radiographs as clinically indicated.
Coding Specifications
| Modifier | Description | When to Use |
|---|---|---|
22 | Increased procedural services | Use when work required is substantially greater than typical due to complexity or extensive scar tissue limiting manipulation. |
23 |