Summary & Overview
CPT 24371: Revision of Total Elbow Arthroplasty, Both Components Replaced
CPT code 24371 represents revision surgery for a failed total elbow arthroplasty in which both the humeral and ulnar prosthetic components are replaced; donor bone graft material may be used. This procedure is clinically significant because revision elbow arthroplasty addresses pain, instability, infection risk, and prosthetic failure, and it often involves complex reconstruction in an aging population with prior implants. National attention centers on resource use, surgical complexity, and postoperative outcomes associated with joint revision procedures.
Key payers included in this analysis are Aetna, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Cigna Health, UnitedHealthcare, and Medicare. Readers will find a concise overview of clinical indications and typical sites of service, plus the types of benchmarks and policy details commonly examined for this code: utilization patterns, reimbursement benchmarks, coverage policy elements, and clinical context for coding and billing. The publication highlights areas where policy updates and prior authorization practices can affect access and payment, and it outlines what to expect when documenting a revision total elbow arthroplasty for claims submission.
Data not available in the input for associated taxonomies, specific ICD-10 diagnosis pairings, and payer-specific rates is noted in the body of the full publication.
Billing Code Overview
CPT code 24371 describes a surgical procedure in which a prior total elbow arthroplasty is revised because both components of the elbow prosthesis (the humeral and ulnar components) have failed. The surgeon removes the failed components, replaces them with new prosthetic components, and may use donor bone graft material as part of the reconstruction.
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Service type: Revision of total elbow replacement with component exchange and possible bone grafting
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Typical site of service: Hospital operating room or ambulatory surgery center
Clinical & Coding Specifications
Clinical Context
A 68-year-old female with a history of total elbow arthroplasty performed 8 years prior presents with progressive elbow pain, instability, and radiographic evidence of loosening of both humeral and ulnar prosthetic components. Conservative measures including activity modification, analgesics, and a trial of bracing failed. Preoperative evaluation includes orthopedic assessment, elbow radiographs and CT to evaluate bone loss, routine labs, and anesthesia clearance. The planned operative workflow is revision total elbow arthroplasty: removal of failed humeral and ulnar components, debridement of fibrous tissue, preparation of canals, implantation of new prosthetic humeral and ulnar components, and insertion of structural or morselized allograft bone graft as needed. Intraoperative fluoroscopy may be used to confirm positioning. Postoperative care includes regional or general anesthesia recovery, pain control, elbow immobilization per surgeon protocol, early supervised range-of-motion in physical therapy, and routine postoperative clinic follow-up with radiographs to monitor component position and graft incorporation.
Coding Specifications
| Modifier | Description | When to Use |
|---|---|---|
00 | No modifier — standard reporting | Use for routine claims when no special circumstances apply |
11 |