CPT 24655 Radial Head/Neck Reduction Reimbursement | OpenPayer

Summary & Overview

CPT 24655: Closed Reduction and Splinting of Radial Head/Neck Fracture

CPT code 24655 covers closed reduction and splinting for fractures of the head or neck of the radius. The code captures a common, time-sensitive orthopedic intervention used to restore alignment and immobilize the distal humeral/ proximal radial articulation near the elbow. Nationally, accurate coding of this service affects emergency and outpatient orthopedic billing, utilization tracking, and quality measurement for acute musculoskeletal injury care.

Key payers in this overview include Aetna, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Cigna Health, UnitedHealthcare, and Medicare. The content outlines how this code is used across typical sites of care — emergency departments, urgent care, orthopedic clinics, and ambulatory surgical centers — and summarizes the clinical context for closed reduction and splinting of radial head/neck fractures.

Readers will find: a clear description of the clinical service represented by this code; payer coverage context and common modifiers listed in source data; and operational considerations such as likely settings of service and service type. Data not available in the input includes specific ICD-10 pairings, detailed payer policy language, reimbursement benchmarks, and associated taxonomies. The summary focuses on national relevance for clinicians, coders, and billing administrators who manage acute fracture care.

AetnaBlue Cross Blue ShieldCigna HealthUnitedHealthcareMedicare24655CPTorthopedicsfracture-managementclosed-reductionsplintingelbow-injuryemergency-care

Billing Code Overview

CPT code 24655 describes closed treatment of a fracture at the head or neck of the radius with manipulation and application of a splint. This procedure involves manual realignment (reduction) of the radial head or neck and placement of a splint to maintain fracture position during healing.

Service type: Closed reduction and splinting of a radial head or neck fracture
Typical site of service: Emergency department, urgent care, orthopedic clinic, or outpatient ambulatory surgical center

Clinical & Coding Specifications

Clinical Context

A 34-year-old manual laborer presents to the emergency department after a fall onto an outstretched hand with immediate lateral elbow pain, swelling, and decreased range of motion. Radiographs demonstrate a displaced fracture involving the radial head and/or neck. After informed consent, the orthopedic surgeon performs a closed reduction of the radial head/neck under appropriate analgesia or regional/local anesthesia, confirms acceptable alignment with fluoroscopy, and applies a temporary posterior or sugar-tong splint to immobilize the elbow and forearm. The patient is observed for neurovascular status, provided post-reduction instructions, and scheduled for follow-up radiographs within 7–10 days and orthopedic clinic follow-up for definitive management if needed.

Coding Specifications

Modifier	Description	When to Use
`51`	Multiple procedures	When additional distinct procedures are billed on the same day in addition to the reduction/splinting.
`52`	Reduced services	When the service is partially reduced or not completed as described by the full code.

CPT 24685: Open Treatment of Proximal Ulna Fracture with Internal Fixation

CPT-24670-PROXIMAL-ULNA-FRACTURE-SPLINTING-CLOSED-TREATMENT

CPT 24670: Closed Treatment of Proximal Ulna Fracture with Splint

CPT-24546-OPEN-REDUCTION-INTERNAL-FIXATION-HUMERUS-CONDYLAR-FRACTURE

CPT 24546: Open Repair of Humerus Fracture Through or Above Condyle

CPT-24577-CLOSED-MANIPULATION-HUMERAL-CONDYLE-FRACTURE

CPT 24577: Closed Manipulation of Humeral Condyle Fracture

CPT-24545-HUMERUS-CONDYLAR-FRACTURE-OPEN-REDUCTION-INTERNAL-FIXATION

CPT 24545: Open Repair of Humerus Condylar Fracture

CPT-24605-CLOSED-REDUCTION-ELBOW-DISLOCATION-GENERAL-ANESTHESIA

CPT 24605: Closed Reduction of Elbow Dislocation Under General Anesthesia

CPT-24516-HUMERAL-SHAFT-INTERNAL-FIXATION-INTRAMEDULLARY-ROD

CPT 24516: Humeral Shaft Internal Fixation with Intramedullary Rod

CPT-24620-MONTEGGIA-FRACTURE-DISLOCATION-CLOSED-REDUCTION-SPLINTING

CPT 24620: Closed Reduction and Splinting of Monteggia Elbow Fracture

CPT-24530-CLOSED-TREATMENT-HUMERUS-CONDYLAR-FRACTURE

CPT 24530: Closed Treatment of Humerus Fracture Through or Above Condyle

CPT-24650-CLOSED-TREATMENT-PROXIMAL-RADIUS-FRACTURE-ELBOW-SPLINTING

CPT 24650: Closed Treatment of Proximal Radius Fracture with Splinting

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Taxonomy Code	Specialty	Notes
`207L00000X`	Orthopedic Surgery	Most common specialty performing closed reductions and splinting for radial head/neck fractures.
`207P00000X`	Hand Surgery	Subspecialty involved when hand/forearm fracture care or complex reduction is required.
`208000000X`	Emergency Medicine	Often performs initial reduction and splinting in the emergency department before orthopedic follow-up.
`2086S0102X`	Sports Medicine	May manage acute elbow fractures in athletic populations and coordinate conservative care.
`261QM0200X`	Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation	Involved in post-acute management, rehabilitation planning, and functional recovery.

Related Diagnoses

ICD-10 Code	Description	Clinical Relevance
`S52.101A`	Fracture of head of right radius, initial encounter for closed fracture	Typical diagnosis for a closed radial head fracture treated with closed reduction and splinting.
`S52.102A`	Fracture of head of left radius, initial encounter for closed fracture	Left-sided equivalent diagnosis for initial closed management.
`S52.111A`	Fracture of neck of right radius, initial encounter for closed fracture	Used when the fracture involves the radial neck and is managed with closed reduction.
`S52.112A`	Fracture of neck of left radius, initial encounter for closed fracture	Left-sided radial neck fracture for initial encounter.
`S52.901A`	Unspecified fracture of right forearm, initial encounter for closed fracture	Used when documentation does not precisely specify head vs neck but forearm fracture is present.
`S52.902A`	Unspecified fracture of left forearm, initial encounter for closed fracture	Left-sided unspecified forearm fracture initial encounter.
`S43.411A`	Dislocation of right elbow, initial encounter	Included when elbow dislocation coexists and reduction addresses joint alignment.
`M25.511`	Pain in right elbow	Symptom code that may accompany fracture management and documentation of pain status.

Related CPT Codes

CPT Code	Description	Relationship to This Procedure
`73030`	Radiologic examination, elbow; 2 views	Pre-reduction or immediate post-reduction radiographs to document fracture alignment.
`73080`	Radiologic examination, forearm; 2 views	Imaging of the forearm when extension of fracture assessment is needed.
`20600`	Arthrocentesis, aspiration and/or injection; major joint or bursa (e.g., shoulder, hip, elbow)	Performed if joint aspiration or injection is required at time of reduction for diagnostic or therapeutic reasons.
`99024`	Postoperative follow-up visit, normally included in global period	Used for reporting related postoperative visits when payer requires separate reporting for unusual circumstances (note: often not separately billable).
`29125`	Application of long arm splint (elbow to hand), static	Definitive splint application after reduction when a long arm splint is used to immobilize the elbow and forearm.
`20690`	Insertion of tendon sheath catheter, irrigation; any method	Related when irrigation or additional soft-tissue procedures in the region are necessary due to associated injury.

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