Summary & Overview
CPT 25505: Closed Treatment of Radius Shaft Fracture, Manipulation
CPT code 25505 denotes closed treatment of a shaft fracture of the radius with manipulation, a common orthopedic procedure used to realign displaced forearm fractures without open incision. Nationally, management of radial shaft fractures with closed manipulation is a routine acute-care service performed in emergency departments, urgent care centers, and ambulatory surgical settings; correct coding is critical for consistent clinical documentation and claims adjudication. Key payers included in this analysis are Aetna, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Cigna Health, UnitedHealthcare, and Medicare. This publication provides a concise clinical and billing overview of CPT code 25505, clarifies the expected service setting and clinical context, and summarizes areas of payer focus such as procedural documentation, site-of-service distinctions, and common claim considerations. Readers will find actionable benchmarks and policy-relevant highlights to inform coding accuracy, including common modifiers and payer coverage patterns where available. The content is national in scope and intended for providers, coding professionals, and financial administrators seeking clear guidance on the clinical meaning and billing context of closed radial shaft fracture manipulation.
Billing Code Overview
CPT code 25505 describes a closed treatment of a fracture of the shaft of the radius with manipulation. The procedure involves manual or instrument-assisted realignment of the forearm fracture without making an incision.
Service type: Closed fracture management, manipulation/realignment
Typical site of service: Emergency department, urgent care, or outpatient ambulatory surgical center, depending on clinical stability and setting of initial fracture care.
Data not available in the input for associated taxonomies, ICD-10 diagnoses, and related codes.
Clinical & Coding Specifications
Clinical Context
A 28-year-old male presents to the emergency department after a fall from a bicycle with immediate forearm pain, visible deformity, swelling, and inability to actively rotate the forearm. Plain radiographs demonstrate a displaced mid-shaft fracture of the radius without open skin disruption. The orthopedic surgeon performs a closed reduction under conscious sedation in the ED or procedure suite, manipulates the fragments into acceptable alignment, confirms reduction with fluoroscopy, and applies a long-arm cast or splint. Post-reduction neurovascular checks are documented, and the patient is given sling support and follow-up arranged in the orthopedic clinic within 7–10 days for repeat radiographs and cast management.
Coding Specifications
| Modifier | Description | When to Use |
|---|---|---|
25 | Significant, separately identifiable E/M service by the same physician on the day of a procedure | When an unrelated evaluation is performed on the same day as the closed reduction and is documented separately. |
47 | Anesthesia by surgeon | When regional or local anesthesia is administered by the surgeon without an anesthesiologist. |