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    OpenPayerBilling CodesArthrodesis Procedures on the Humerus (Upper Arm) and ElbowCPT cpt-24800-elbow-arthrodesis-with-local-bone-graft
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    CPT 24800: Elbow Arthrodesis with Bone Graft and Internal Fixation

    Medicare pays $795 on average nationally for this procedure.

    CPT code 24800 describes surgical immobilization (arthrodesis) of the elbow joint using fixation devices with induction of bone formation via an autograft harvested near the elbow; service type: elbow arthrodesis with bone graft and internal fixation; typical site of service: inpatient or outpatient hospital setting or ambulatory surgical center where orthopedic joint fusion procedures are performed.

    For related coverage guidance, see recent payer policy updates: Orthopedic Joint Procedures of the Knee for Managed Medicaid (MMC), Health and Recovery Plan (HARP), Child Health Plus (CHP), and Essential Plan (EP) Members, Autologous Chondrocyte Transplantation or Implantation Corporate Medical Policy, Autologous Platelet-Derived Growth Factors (Platelet-Rich Plasma [PRP]).

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    Clinical & Coding Specifications

    Clinical Context

    A typical patient is a middle-aged adult who presents with chronic elbow pain, instability, or post-traumatic arthrosis after failed conservative care and/or prior fracture fixation. The patient often has persistent pain, limited range of motion, and radiographic evidence of joint degeneration, nonunion, or symptomatic osteoarthritis of the elbow. Preoperative workup includes history and physical exam, elbow radiographs and often CT scan to assess joint surfaces and bone stock, and preoperative anesthesia evaluation.

    Surgical workflow: The patient is taken to the operating room under general or regional anesthesia. The surgeon exposes the elbow joint, harvests an autograft from a local donor site near the elbow (such as olecranon or proximal ulna), prepares the joint surfaces, and places fixation devices (plates, screws, or external fixation) to create surgical immobilization and promote arthrodesis or fusion. Bone graft material is placed to induce osseous bridging. Postoperative care includes immobilization in a splint or cast, pain control, physical therapy as indicated, and serial radiographs to confirm fusion.

    Common clinical indications include painful elbow arthrosis refractory to nonoperative care, segmental bone loss with instability, or chronically symptomatic nonunion where joint-sparing reconstruction is not feasible.

    Typical site of service: hospital operating room or ambulatory surgery center. Typical patient location for recovery: post-anesthesia care unit, with early outpatient follow-up for wound checks and imaging.

    Related CPT Codes

    CPT CodeDescriptionRelationship to This Procedure
    24800Arthrodesis, elbow; includes internal fixation, with autograftPrimary procedure: surgical immobilization of the elbow joint with fixation and local grafting to induce fusion.
    20680Removal of implant; deep (e.g., plates, screws)Often performed preoperatively or concurrently if prior hardware is present and impedes fusion.
    20938Autograft, any donor area; includes obtaining graft (includes trunk, fibula, iliac crest — code for local grafting varies)Used when additional autograft is harvested from a donor site; documents graft harvest when not bundled.
    29807Arthroscopy, elbow, surgical; synovectomy, debridement, or limited proceduresMay be performed prior to or in staged fashion for joint assessment or debridement before open arthrodesis.
    20670Bone graft, any donor area; packing of a bone cavity (includes obtaining graft)Adjunct when bone grafting materials are placed to promote fusion; documents graft placement activities.
    99024Postoperative follow-up visit, global period (hospital or ASC)Represents routine postoperative care visits in the global surgical period following fusion; used by some payers for billing context.

    Related Modifiers

    12 rows

    ModifierDescriptionWhen to Use
    22Modifier –22 (Increased Procedural Services) is used when a reported procedure is substantially more extensive than normally required. The CPT Manual and CMS state it may be appended only when the…- When to use: Append modifier -22 to a procedural CPT code when the service performed is substantially more extensive than the usual service described by that code — i.e., the procedure required…
    23Modifier -23 (Unusual Anesthesia) is used on anesthesia service CPT codes when a procedure that normally requires no anesthesia or only local anesthesia must be performed under general anesthesia…- Use modifier -23 only on anesthesia CPT codes (00100–01999) when a procedure that normally requires no anesthesia or only local anesthesia must be performed under general anesthesia because of…
    26Modifier 26 (Professional Component) identifies and bills only the professional portion of a split service — the physician’s interpretation, report, and medical judgment — when the technical…- Use CPT Modifier -26 when you are billing only the professional component (PC) of a split‑bill eligible service—i.e., you performed the physician interpretation, medical judgment and prepared a…
    50Modifier –50 (Bilateral Procedure) is appended to a CPT code when an identical procedure is performed on paired anatomical structures during the same operative session. The AMA states to add…- Use modifier -50 when the same CPT surgical, diagnostic, or radiology procedure is performed on paired anatomical structures (both sides of the body) during the same operative/session by the same…
    51Modifier –51 (Multiple Procedures) is used when the same provider performs multiple procedures in the same session to identify secondary, non‑exempt procedures and indicate payment reduction logic…- Use modifier -51 when the same provider performs multiple distinct procedures during the same patient encounter: report the highest‑valued procedure first (no modifier) and append -51 to…
    52Modifier ‑52 (Reduced Services) indicates that a service or procedure was partially reduced or omitted at the provider’s discretion, allowing reporting of the basic procedure number with a qualifier…- Use modifier -52 when a physician or qualified health professional electively reduces or omits part of a procedure or service (for example, performing fewer required views or omitting a portion of…
    53Modifier 53 (Discontinued Procedure) signals that a surgical or diagnostic service was begun by the physician but terminated because of extenuating circumstances that threatened the patient’s…- Use modifier -53 when a physician/qualified healthcare professional has started a surgical or diagnostic procedure (e.g., anesthesia administered, incision or scope insertion) and then discontinues…
    62Modifier 62 indicates that two surgeons function as co‑surgeons, each performing distinct parts of the same primary surgical procedure. It is appended to the primary procedure code (and any…- Use modifier -62 when two surgeons act as co‑surgeons (both primary surgeons) on a single definitive primary procedure, each performing distinct parts of the same surgical procedure (append -62 to…
    76Modifier -76, Repeat Procedure or Service by Same Physician or Other Qualified Health Care Professional, is appended when the same provider performs an identical, medically necessary procedure or…- Use modifier -76 when the same physician or other qualified health care professional performs an identical procedure or service a second (or subsequent) time on the same date of service and the…
    80CPT® Modifier 80 (Assistant Surgeon) is appended to a surgical CPT code when a physician (MD or DO) provides full, continuous assistance throughout the operative procedure. It is intended only for…- Use CPT Modifier -80 when a physician (MD or DO) serves as an assistant surgeon and provides full, continuous assistance throughout the entire operative procedure; append -80 to the surgical CPT…

    Showing 1–10 of 12

    Related Provider Taxonomies

    8 rows

    Taxonomy Code
    207L00000X
    208800000X
    2084P0800X
    363L00000X
    207QA0401X
    2084N0402X
    207RG0100X
    343900000X

    Related ICD-10-CM Codes

    28 rows

    ICD-10-CM CodeDescription
    M05.011Felty's syndrome, right shoulder
    M05.012Felty's syndrome, left shoulder
    M06.011Rheumatoid arthritis without rheumatoid factor, right shoulder
    M06.012Rheumatoid arthritis without rheumatoid factor, left shoulder
    M19.011Primary osteoarthritis, right shoulder
    M19.012Primary osteoarthritis, left shoulder
    M24.211Disorder of ligament, right shoulder
    M24.312Pathological dislocation of left shoulder, not elsewhere classified
    M25.012Hemarthrosis, left shoulder
    M25.211Flail joint, right shoulder

    Showing 1–10 of 28

    Related Payer Policy Updates

    Specialty: Orthopedics/Musculoskeletal1 / 2

    10 rows

    PolicyPayerEffective Date
    Orthopedic Joint Procedures of the Knee for Managed Medicaid (MMC), Health and Recovery Plan (HARP), Child Health Plus (CHP), and Essential Plan (EP) Membersuniverahealthcare2027-01-01
    Autologous Chondrocyte Transplantation or Implantation Corporate Medical Policybcbsvermont2026-12-01
    Autologous Platelet-Derived Growth Factors (Platelet-Rich Plasma [PRP])Cigna2026-10-15
    Metatarsophalangeal Joint ReplacementCigna2026-10-15
    Shoulder Arthroplasty (Total, Partial, Reverse, Revision and Resurfacing)univerahealthcare2026-10-15
    Hip Arthroplasty (partial and total hip replacement)univerahealthcare2026-10-15
    Artificial Lumbar Intervertebral Disc (Lumbar Total Disc Arthroplasty)univerahealthcare2026-10-15
    Osteochondral Grafting of the Kneeuniverahealthcare2026-10-15
    Metal-on-Metal Total Hip Resurfacinguniverahealthcare2026-10-15
    Lumbar Fusion (arthrodesis) with decompressionuniverahealthcare2026-10-15

    Related Codes

    CPT-24802-ELBOW-ARTHRODESIS-WITH-AUTOLOGOUS-BONE-GRAFT

    CPT 24802: Elbow Arthrodesis with Autograft

    Frequently Asked Questions

    References

    1. 1.CPT® Codes and Descriptions. AAPC. Retrieved Aug 11, 2026.Maintains the CPT code set's official descriptions and guidelines, licensed from the American Medical Association, used as the definitional source for CPT codes on this page.
    2. 2.HCPCS Quarterly Update. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). Retrieved Aug 11, 2026.CMS's quarterly release of HCPCS Level II codes and short/long descriptors, the source for HCPCS code definitions and update history.
    3. 3.ICD-10-CM Full Code List. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). Retrieved Aug 11, 2026.CMS's complete ICD-10-CM diagnosis code list, used to cross-reference diagnosis codes associated with this procedure or service.
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