Summary & Overview
CPT 24370: Revision of Total Elbow Replacement, Component Exchange
CPT code 24370 represents surgical revision of a previously implanted total elbow prosthesis when one component—either the humeral or ulnar element—has failed. The procedure typically includes removal of the failed component, implantation of a replacement component, and may include placement of donor bone graft material. This code matters nationally because revision arthroplasty carries higher resource use, complex perioperative management, and implications for device surveillance and payer coverage policies.
Key payers discussed include Aetna, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Cigna Health, UnitedHealthcare, and Medicare. Readers will find a clear clinical description of the service, expected sites of care, and the context for utilization and coverage considerations. The publication presents benchmarks and payment policy context where available, highlights common billing practices and relevant modifiers, and outlines clinical factors that influence service setting and resource needs. The material is designed for clinicians, coding staff, and policy analysts seeking concise guidance on the purpose and scope of CPT code 24370, operational considerations for delivering the service, and areas where payer policies and utilization drivers commonly intersect.
Data not available in the input for specific ICD-10 diagnoses, associated taxonomies, and related CPT or HCPCS codes.
Billing Code Overview
CPT code 24370 describes a revision of a prior total elbow arthroplasty when a component of the artificial joint has failed. The procedure involves removal of the failed humeral or ulnar component and placement of a new prosthetic component; the surgeon may also insert donor bone graft material as part of the revision.
Service Type: Surgical revision of total elbow replacement
Typical Site of Service: Hospital operating room or ambulatory surgery center, with inpatient admission possible depending on clinical complexity and patient stability.
Data not available in the input for payers, taxonomies, ICD-10 diagnoses, and related codes.
Clinical & Coding Specifications
Clinical Context
A 68-year-old female with a prior total elbow arthroplasty presents with progressive elbow pain, instability, and radiographic evidence of loosening and wear of the humeral component. Conservative measures have failed. The orthopedic surgeon schedules a revision of the total elbow arthroplasty to remove the failed humeral component, prepare bone surfaces, and implant a new humeral prosthetic component; allograft bone graft material may be used to address bone loss. The procedure is performed in an ambulatory surgery center or hospital operating room under general or regional anesthesia with intraoperative fluoroscopy. Postoperative care includes pain control, neurovascular monitoring, immobilization in a posterior splint, and outpatient physical therapy for range-of-motion restoration and strengthening once soft-tissue healing permits. Typical documentation includes the indication, prior implant details, operative findings (component failure, bone loss, infection status), component removed and implanted, use of bone graft, estimated blood loss, implants by catalog/lot number, and postoperative instructions.
Coding Specifications
| Modifier | Description | When to Use |
|---|---|---|
62 | Two surgeons | Use when two surgeons work together as primary surgeons on the revision due to complexity. |
63 |