Summary & Overview
CPT 24900: Upper-Arm Amputation Through Humerus
CPT code 24900 denotes an upper-arm amputation through the humerus with closure of remaining muscle and skin. This is a high-acuity, major surgical procedure with significant clinical and resource implications, including operating room time, anesthesia, postoperative inpatient care, and potential prosthetic and rehabilitation needs. Nationally, accurate coding of major limb amputations affects clinical registries, quality measurement, and payer coverage determinations.
Key payers addressed in this analysis include Aetna, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Cigna Health, UnitedHealthcare, and Medicare. Readers will find a concise summary of where CPT code 24900 fits in clinical practice, common payer coverage considerations, and the operational contexts in which the code is used. The publication outlines benchmarks for utilization, relevant policy or coverage update highlights when available, and clinical context about indications and care settings.
The report is intended to help billing professionals, hospital administrators, and clinical leaders understand use cases for CPT code 24900, typical sites of service, and the stakeholders involved in authorization and reimbursement. Data not available in the input will be noted where applicable.
Billing Code Overview
CPT code 24900 describes a surgical amputation procedure in which the provider completely removes the arm at any point on the humerus and closes the wound with remaining muscle and skin layers. This procedure is a major operative intervention involving removal of the upper limb at the humeral level.
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Service type: Major surgical amputation of the upper extremity
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Typical site of service: Inpatient hospital operating room or other operative surgical setting
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Clinical & Coding Specifications
Clinical Context
A typical patient undergoing 24900 is an adult with a non-salvageable upper extremity due to severe trauma (for example, mangling injury or traumatic amputation through the humerus), advanced malignancy involving the humerus with uncontrollable pain or infection, or ischemic limb after failed revascularization. The clinical workflow begins with emergency or inpatient evaluation by trauma or orthopedic teams, radiographic and neurovascular assessment, and multidisciplinary discussion when oncologic or infectious indications exist. Preoperative steps include informed consent, optimization of medical comorbidities, anesthesia evaluation, and planning for level of amputation on the humerus. Intraoperative steps include proximal control of neurovascular structures, complete removal of the arm at the humeral level, management of muscle and soft tissue flaps for adequate coverage, meticulous hemostasis, and layered closure of muscle and skin. Postoperative care involves pain control, infection surveillance, stump wound care, early mobilization, and coordination with physical medicine and rehabilitation and prosthetics services for fitting and functional recovery planning. Typical sites of service are operating room in hospital inpatient or ambulatory surgery center settings depending on urgency and patient condition. The service type is major surgical amputation of the upper extremity.
Coding Specifications
| Modifier | Description | When to Use |
|---|---|---|
LT | Left side |