Summary & Overview
CPT 24330: Elbow Flexor Muscle Transfer to Increase Flexion Strength
CPT code 24330 denotes a surgical elbow flexor transfer: relocating the flexor muscle group from the medial humeral condyle to a higher humeral insertion to improve elbow flexion strength. This reconstructive procedure is clinically significant for patients with lost or weakened elbow flexion from nerve injury, muscle loss, or chronic dysfunction, and it has implications for surgical care patterns, facility use, and payer authorization processes nationwide. Key payers addressed in the analysis include Aetna, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Cigna Health, UnitedHealthcare, and Medicare. Readers will find a concise clinical description, typical sites of service, and context for where this procedure fits in musculoskeletal and peripheral nerve reconstruction care. The publication summarizes common billing considerations, prevalent modifiers in billing practice, and gaps where specific taxonomy or diagnosis mapping is not provided. It highlights benchmarks and policy-relevant elements such as facility setting, potential authorization pathways, and national payer coverage patterns where available. Data not available in the input are noted explicitly; the report focuses on clarifying the clinical intent of the code, typical billing environment, and the payer landscape that providers and billing teams commonly navigate when coding for upper-extremity reconstructive surgeries.
Billing Code Overview
CPT code 24330 describes a surgical procedure to increase elbow flexion strength by transferring the group of flexor muscles from the medial condyle of the humerus to a more proximal point on the humeral shaft. This operative technique is directed at restoring or augmenting active elbow flexion when native muscle-tendon function is compromised.
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Service type: Surgical, upper extremity reconstructive procedure
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Typical site of service: Hospital operating room or ambulatory surgical center
Data not available in the input for associated taxonomies, ICD-10 diagnoses, and related codes.
Clinical & Coding Specifications
Clinical Context
A 34-year-old right-hand–dominant patient presents with persistent weakness of elbow flexion following a traumatic mid-humeral nerve injury sustained 10 months prior. Conservative management including physical therapy and nerve recovery surveillance has not yielded functional improvement. On exam the biceps and brachialis show diminished strength (MRC grade 2–3) with preserved passive range of motion and a stable shoulder and wrist. The orthopedic surgeon recommends a muscle-tendon transfer to restore active elbow flexion.
The procedure is performed in an outpatient hospital or ambulatory surgery center setting under regional block with sedation or general anesthesia. The operative workflow includes preoperative localization and marking, exposure of the medial distal humeral flexor origin, detachment of the flexor muscle group from the medial condyle, mobilization, and reattachment to a more proximal humeral surface to improve the lever arm for elbow flexion. Intraoperative neurovascular protection and hemostasis are documented. Postoperative care includes immobilization in a protective brace or sling, pain control, and referral to supervised rehabilitation with progressive range-of-motion and strengthening protocols. Follow-up visits document wound healing, neurovascular status, and incremental gains in flexion strength.
Coding Specifications
| Modifier | Description | When to Use |
|---|---|---|
00 | Unspecified — typically not used in standard CMS modifier sets | Data not available in the input. |