Summary & Overview
CPT 25900: Forearm Amputation with Closure
CPT code 25900 identifies a surgical amputation of the forearm with closure of muscular and skin layers. This definitive operative code captures removal of the forearm at any point on the radius and ulna and is used in cases requiring limb resection for trauma, infection, ischemia, malignancy, or other irreversible pathology. Nationally, accurate use of this code matters for clinical documentation, surgical quality measurement, inpatient utilization tracking, and appropriate payment for high-acuity operative care.
Key payers in this analysis include Aetna, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Cigna Health, UnitedHealthcare, and Medicare. Readers will find a concise overview of the clinical context and service setting for CPT code 25900, plus discussion of common billing modifiers and payer considerations used with major carriers. The publication summarizes expected sites of service, typical documentation elements that support procedural reporting, and common billing patterns associated with major payers. Where input data are incomplete, the report identifies missing fields and notes that certain payer-specific coverage details or associated diagnosis codes are not provided in the input.
Billing Code Overview
CPT code 25900 describes the complete removal of the forearm at any level of the radius and ulna with subsequent closure of the remaining muscle and skin layers. This is an amputation procedure of the forearm involving surgical resection of the distal limb followed by soft-tissue closure.
-
Service type: Surgical amputation
-
Typical site of service: Operating room or inpatient surgical setting
Clinical & Coding Specifications
Clinical Context
A typical patient is an adult with a non-salvageable forearm following severe trauma (e.g., crush injury, high-energy degloving, uncontrolled hemorrhage, or irreparable soft tissue and vascular damage) or advanced infection/osteomyelitis requiring definitive amputation through the radius and ulna. The patient presents to an inpatient surgical service or emergency department, is evaluated by orthopedic or trauma surgery, and undergoes preoperative assessment including vascular status, infection control, and prosthetic planning. Intraoperative steps include formal preparation and tourniquet use as indicated, identification of the level on the radius and ulna, transection of bones, meticulous soft-tissue and neurovascular management, and layered closure of muscle and skin. Postoperative workflow includes pain control, wound care and infection surveillance, prosthetic consults, physical and occupational therapy for stump shaping and functional training, and discharge planning with outpatient follow-up.
Coding Specifications
| Modifier | Description | When to Use |
|---|---|---|
LT | Left side | Use when the amputation is of the left forearm. |
RT | Right side | Use when the amputation is of the right forearm. |