Summary & Overview
CPT 25606: Percutaneous Fixation of Distal Radius Fracture
CPT code 25606 denotes percutaneous fixation of a distal radius fracture or epiphyseal separation using screws and/or pins. This minimally invasive orthopedic procedure stabilizes breaks at the lower end of the radius bone, including growth-plate injuries, and is commonly performed in ambulatory surgery centers or hospital operating rooms. Nationally, the code matters because distal radius fractures are a frequent reason for acute orthopedic intervention and can affect payer utilization, surgical setting trends, and device-use billing patterns.
Key payers covered in this analysis include Aetna, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Cigna Health, UnitedHealthcare, and Medicare. The publication provides a concise overview of clinical context for 25606, common settings of care, and operational considerations tied to coding and claims submission.
Readers will learn the clinical scope of the code, typical sites of service, and which payers are considered in the national view. The content also outlines what to expect in associated benchmarking and policy discussion sections. Data elements not provided in the input are noted as unavailable; the summary focuses on the procedural definition, payer coverage scope, and the practical relevance of 25606 for coding and billing workflows.
Billing Code Overview
CPT code 25606 describes percutaneous fixation of a distal radial fracture or epiphyseal separation using screws and/or pins inserted through the skin. This procedure addresses breaks at the distal end of the radius bone, including injuries involving the growth plate (epiphyseal separation).
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Service type: Surgical fracture fixation (percutaneous internal fixation)
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Typical site of service: Ambulatory surgery center or hospital operating room, depending on injury severity and patient needs.
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Clinical & Coding Specifications
Clinical Context
A 14-year-old adolescent presents to the emergency department after a fall onto an outstretched hand during a soccer game. Examination reveals wrist pain, swelling, and deformity of the distal forearm. Radiographs confirm a displaced distal radius fracture with physeal (epiphyseal) separation. After closed reduction is attempted in the ED, the orthopaedic surgeon schedules percutaneous fixation using screws and/or pins under fluoroscopic guidance to stabilize the distal radius fragment and restore alignment.
The clinical workflow includes preoperative evaluation (consent, neurovascular exam, infection risk assessment), perioperative imaging review, regional or general anesthesia, sterile percutaneous insertion of pins and/or screws with fluoroscopic confirmation of reduction and hardware position, wound care and sterile dressing, postoperative radiographs, immobilization in a splint or cast, and discharge with instructions for follow-up for pin removal or hardware assessment and physical therapy as indicated. Typical site of service is an ambulatory surgery center or hospital operating room. The service type is orthopaedic operative fixation of a distal radius fracture via percutaneous pin or screw placement using percutaneous technique as described by 25606.
Coding Specifications
- Below are the most clinically relevant modifiers for percutaneous fixation of a distal radius fracture and typical use.
| Modifier | Description | When to Use |
|---|---|---|