Summary & Overview
CPT 25927: Hand and Finger Amputation at Metacarpal Level
CPT code 25927 denotes surgical amputation of the fingers and a portion of the hand through the metacarpal bones. This code captures an operative procedure used in cases of severe hand trauma, necrosis, infection, or other conditions necessitating removal of distal hand structures at the metacarpal level. Nationally, accurate coding for major hand amputations is important for clinical registry reporting, quality measurement, and consistent claims adjudication across payers.
Key payers covered in this analysis include Aetna, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Cigna Health, UnitedHealthcare, and Medicare. Readers will find an overview of the clinical context for amputation at the metacarpal level, typical sites of service, and the payer landscape relevant to coverage and billing. The publication summarizes common modifiers and administrative considerations when submitting claims for major hand amputation and outlines where benchmarking and policy updates commonly affect reimbursement and documentation requirements.
This resource provides clinicians, coding professionals, and billing managers with a concise reference to understand what CPT code 25927 represents, how it is used in practice, and the administrative elements that typically accompany claims for this major operative service. Data not available in the input are noted where applicable.
Billing Code Overview
CPT code 25927 describes surgical amputation of the fingers and a portion of the hand performed by transecting across the metacarpal bones. This procedure involves removal of the distal hand structures at the metacarpal level and is typically performed for severe trauma, infection, ischemia, or nonviable tissue requiring hand-level amputation.
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Service type: Surgical amputation of hand and fingers at the metacarpal level
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Typical site of service: Hospital operating room or inpatient surgical unit
Data not available in the input for associated taxonomies, ICD-10 diagnoses, and related codes.
Clinical & Coding Specifications
Clinical Context
A 58-year-old male presents to the emergency department after a high-energy crushing injury to his dominant right hand when a heavy industrial roller struck his fingers and distal hand. On examination there is extensive soft tissue loss, multiple comminuted fractures of the metacarpals, nonviable digits with crush necrosis, and uncontrollable hemorrhage. After initial resuscitation, imaging, and consultation with hand surgery, the decision is made to perform a partial hand amputation through the metacarpal bones to remove nonviable tissue, control infection risk, and prepare the residual limb for future prosthetic fitting. The clinical workflow includes preoperative evaluation and consent, regional or general anesthesia, surgical amputation at the metacarpal level with hemostasis and soft tissue management, possible immediate placement of temporary dressing or flap coverage, perioperative antibiotics, postoperative pain control, wound care, and referral for occupational therapy and prosthetic consultation. Typical sites of service are the operating room in an acute care hospital, outpatient ambulatory surgery center when elective, or trauma center in emergent presentations. Common payors involved in authorization and billing include Aetna, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Cigna Health, UnitedHealthcare, BUCA, and Medicare.
Coding Specifications
| Modifier | Description | When to Use |
|---|---|---|
LT | Left side | Use when the amputation is performed on the left hand. |