Summary & Overview
CPT 25392: Radius or Ulna Shaft Shortening, Segmental Resection
CPT code 25392 identifies an orthopedic surgical procedure that involves removal of a segment of the radius or ulna shaft to shorten the forearm bone. This code captures a targeted operative intervention used in corrective and reconstructive contexts, with implications for surgical authorization, facility billing, and post-operative care planning. Nationally, accurate coding of such procedures matters for consistent claims processing, resource allocation in operative settings, and tracking utilization of upper-extremity reconstructive surgery.
Key payers referenced include Aetna, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Cigna Health, UnitedHealthcare, and Medicare. Readers will find a concise overview of clinical intent and typical sites of service, alongside payer coverage considerations and common modifiers used to report variations in service delivery. The publication provides benchmarks where available, notes on documentation and coding practice, and clinical context that helps billing and clinical teams align operative reports with claim submissions.
This summary offers a national perspective on coding practice for bone-shortening procedures of the forearm, focused on clear identification of the service, expected settings of care, and the payer landscape relevant for claims and authorization workflows.
Billing Code Overview
CPT code 25392 describes a surgical procedure in which a segment of the diaphyseal shaft of the radius or ulna is removed to shorten the bone. This procedure is used to reduce overall bone length in the forearm when clinically indicated, often as part of corrective or reconstructive orthopedic care.
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Service type: Surgical procedure — open bone-shortening (osteotomy with segmental resection)
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Typical site of service: Hospital operating room or ambulatory surgery center, depending on clinical complexity and patient status.
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Clinical & Coding Specifications
Clinical Context
A typical patient is an adult who presents with a malunited or symptomatic forearm deformity or limb-length discrepancy following prior fracture, congenital deformity, or growth arrest. The patient has persistent forearm pain, limited pronation/supination, or functional impairment despite conservative care. Preoperative workup includes history and physical, radiographs (AP and lateral of the radius and ulna) and often CT for rotational or length assessment. The orthopedic hand/upper-extremity or trauma surgeon schedules an operative single bone or combined forearm procedure. In the operating room under general or regional anesthesia, the provider exposes the affected bone (radius or ulna), performs an osteotomy, removes a segment of the diaphyseal shaft to achieve shortening, and obtains reduction and fixation (plates/screws or intramedullary device). Intraoperative fluoroscopy confirms alignment and length. Postoperative care includes immobilization, analgesia, radiographic follow-up to document healing, and outpatient rehabilitation to restore range of motion and strength.
Coding Specifications
| Modifier | Description | When to Use |
|---|---|---|
22 | Increased procedural services | Use when the work, time, or complexity of the osteotomy and shortening is substantially greater than typical. |
52 |