Summary & Overview
CPT 25924: Forearm Stump Revision After Wrist Disarticulation
CPT code 25924 represents a surgical stump revision of the forearm performed after prior disarticulation of the hand through the wrist joint. The procedure involves trimming additional length of the residual limb to address non–healing tissue or to reshape the stump so it can appropriately fit a prosthesis. Nationally, this code is relevant to orthopaedic and reconstructive surgeons, prosthetics teams, and payers managing post-amputation care and prosthetic habilitation.
Key payers in this analysis include Aetna, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Cigna Health, UnitedHealthcare, and Medicare. Readers will find a concise clinical context for 25924, typical sites of service, common billing considerations, and an overview of the payer landscape. The publication offers benchmarks where available, summaries of coverage patterns and policy language, and notes on coding practice affecting utilization and claims processing.
This executive summary equips clinicians, coding professionals, and payers with the essential information to understand when CPT code 25924 applies, the clinical rationale for the procedure, and the payer groups most commonly involved in coverage decisions. Data not available in the input are noted where applicable in the full publication.
Billing Code Overview
CPT code 25924 describes a surgical procedure to shorten a forearm stump by cutting additional length of the residual limb after prior disarticulation of the hand through the wrist joint. This procedure is performed when the existing stump is non–healing or is not suitable to accommodate a prosthesis in its current form.
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Service type: Surgical revision of a residual limb (stump revision)
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Typical site of service: Operative setting, commonly performed in an ambulatory surgery center or hospital operating room under appropriate anesthesia
Clinical & Coding Specifications
Clinical Context
A 47-year-old male with a prior wrist disarticulation presents with a chronic non-healing distal stump and pain that prevents proper prosthetic fitting. The patient reports skin breakdown over the distal ulna/radius exposure and recurrent infection despite wound care. After preoperative assessment, imaging confirms inadequate soft tissue coverage and a bony prominence; the surgical team schedules a revision amputation to shorten and reshape the stump to allow wound healing and prosthesis fitting. The clinical workflow includes preoperative evaluation (history, vascular and infection assessment), informed consent documenting goals (pain relief, improved prosthetic fit), preoperative antibiotics as indicated, operative revision amputation using 25924 with hemostasis and soft-tissue management, intraoperative documentation of resection length and neurovascular handling, postoperative wound care instructions, and coordination with prosthetics and rehabilitation services for socket fitting and occupational therapy.
Coding Specifications
| Modifier | Description | When to Use |
|---|---|---|
52 | Reduced services | Use when the procedure is partially reduced or incomplete relative to full procedure. |
53 |