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CPT 27025: Fasciotomy, Hip or Thigh

CPT code 27025 denotes a surgical fasciotomy of the hip or thigh to relieve fascial tension, decompress compartments, and improve blood flow. Nationally, this code represents an urgent operative intervention commonly performed for acute compartment syndrome, severe traumatic swelling, or vascular compromise in the lower extremity. It is clinically significant because timely decompression can prevent ischemic injury, preserve limb function, and reduce the need for further reconstructive procedures.

Key payers commonly included in coverage and reimbursement analyses are Aetna, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Cigna Health, UnitedHealthcare, and Medicare. Readers will find a concise clinical context for the procedure, typical sites of service, common modifiers and billing considerations, and references to related coding and documentation elements. The publication provides benchmarks where available, notes on payer-specific policy themes, and practical guidance on documentation elements that support medical necessity. Data not available in the input is identified where applicable.

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Billing Code Overview

CPT code 27025 describes a surgical procedure in which the provider performs a fasciotomy in the hip or thigh to relieve pressure within muscle compartments and restore or improve blood flow. This procedure involves cutting the fascia to decompress underlying soft tissues and is typically performed for acute compartment syndrome or severe traumatic swelling.

Service type: Surgical, decompression of soft tissues (fasciotomy)
Typical site of service: Operating room or emergency surgical setting, often in inpatient or ambulatory surgical center environments depending on clinical urgency and patient condition

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CPT 27025: Fasciotomy, Hip or Thigh

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Get alerted when payer policies referencing 27025 are released or updated.

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Billing Code Overview

Service type: Surgical, decompression of soft tissues (fasciotomy)
Typical site of service: Operating room or emergency surgical setting, often in inpatient or ambulatory surgical center environments depending on clinical urgency and patient condition

Clinical & Coding Specifications

Clinical Context

A typical patient is an adult presenting with acute or chronic compartment syndrome of the thigh or hip following high-energy trauma (e.g., femoral fracture, crush injury) or exertional compartment syndrome in athletes. The patient reports severe, worsening thigh pain out of proportion to exam, tense swelling, pain with passive stretch of hip or knee musculature, paresthesia, and possible diminished distal pulses. After rapid clinical assessment, intracompartmental pressure measurement may be performed. When pressures are elevated or clinical concern for neurovascular compromise is clear, the surgical team proceeds to urgent fasciotomy of the thigh/hip compartments.

The clinical workflow includes: emergency department evaluation and resuscitation; imaging (radiographs, CT or MRI as indicated) to evaluate fractures or soft-tissue injury; compartment pressure monitoring when diagnosis is uncertain; informed consent and preoperative optimization; operating room or procedural suite fasciotomy under general or regional anesthesia with appropriate hemostasis and wound management (delayed primary closure or negative-pressure wound therapy); postoperative monitoring for limb perfusion, infection, and need for further debridement or reconstructive procedures; documentation of indication, compartments released, laterality, anesthesia, and any staged procedures.

Coding Specifications

Modifier	Description	When to Use
`LT`	Left side	Use when the fasciotomy is performed on the left hip/thigh
`RT`	Right side	Use when the fasciotomy is performed on the right hip/thigh
`50`	Bilateral procedure	Use when fasciotomies are performed on both limbs during the same operative session
`51`	Multiple procedures	Use when other distinct CPT-coded procedures are performed in the same operative session in addition to the fasciotomy
`52`	Reduced services	Use when the procedure is partially reduced or not completed as originally planned
`53`	Discontinued procedure	Use when the procedure is terminated due to patient condition or intraoperative complication
`59`	Distinct procedural service	Use to indicate a separate, distinct procedural service from other billed procedures on the same day
`22`	Increased procedural services	Use when the fasciotomy requires substantially greater work than typical (extensive dissection, unusual complexity); documentation must support
`78`	Return to OR for related procedure during global period	Use if the patient returns to the operating room for a related procedure during the global post-op period
`79`	Unrelated procedure or service during global period	Use when an unrelated procedure is performed during the global period
`26`	Professional component	Use if reporting only the professional component of a service that has a technical component (rare for this operative code)

Taxonomy Code	Specialty	Notes
207RC0000X	Orthopaedic Surgery	Orthopedic surgeons commonly perform thigh/hip fasciotomies for trauma-related compartment syndrome
208000000X	General Surgery	Trauma/general surgeons perform fasciotomy in multisystem trauma or emergency settings
207L00000X	Vascular Surgery	Vascular surgeons may perform fasciotomy when ischemia/reperfusion injury results in compartment syndrome
208100000X	Surgical Critical Care	Surgical critical care physicians may lead multidisciplinary care and perform procedures in acute settings

Related Diagnoses

ICD-10 Code	Description	Clinical Relevance
`S72.001A`	Fracture of unspecified part of neck of right femur, initial encounter for closed fracture	Femoral fractures can precipitate thigh compartment syndrome requiring fasciotomy
`S72.002A`	Fracture of unspecified part of neck of left femur, initial encounter for closed fracture	Left-sided femoral fractures similarly increase compartment pressure risk
`T79.A11A`	Traumatic compartment syndrome of right lower extremity, initial encounter	Direct indication for fasciotomy to decompress compartments
`T79.A12A`	Traumatic compartment syndrome of left lower extremity, initial encounter	Left-sided traumatic compartment syndrome requiring decompression
`M79.601`	Pain in right hip	Represents localizing symptom that may prompt evaluation for compartment syndrome or other hip/thigh pathology
`M79.602`	Pain in left hip	Left-sided hip pain relevant to clinical presentation leading to fasciotomy
`I97.410`	Iatrogenic compartment syndrome of right lower limb	Compartment syndrome following medical intervention (e.g., reperfusion) necessitating fasciotomy
`I97.411`	Iatrogenic compartment syndrome of left lower limb	Left-sided iatrogenic compartment syndrome requiring decompression

Related CPT Codes

CPT Code	Description	Relationship to This Procedure
`11012`	Debridement of extensive soft tissue (e.g., for infected or necrotic tissue)	May be performed during the same admission if fasciotomy reveals devitalized tissue requiring debridement
`12001`	Simple repair of superficial wounds; initial or subsequent	Used for closure of skin lacerations or delayed primary closure of fasciotomy incisions when appropriate
`27600`	Fasciotomy, leg, multiple compartments (e.g., release of anterior, lateral, posterior)	Related lower-extremity compartment release; analogous procedures for calf compartments and considered when thigh and leg compartments are both involved
`29581`	Application of negative pressure wound therapy to trunk/limbs	Commonly used as temporary wound management for fasciotomy incisions prior to definitive closure
`20610`	Arthrocentesis, aspiration and/or injection; major joint or bursa	May be used adjunctively for diagnostic or therapeutic drainage of associated joint effusion in perioperative care

CPT 26990: Incision and Drainage of Deep Pelvic or Hip Abscess

CPT-26991-HIP-BURSA-INCISION-AND-DRAINAGE

CPT 26991: Incision and Drainage of Infected Hip Bursa

CPT-26992-PELVIC-HIP-BONE-CORTEX-INCISION-FOR-INFECTION

CPT 26992: Incision of Pelvic or Hip Bone Cortex for Infection

CPT-27000-PERCUTANEOUS-ADDUCTOR-TENOTOMY-HIP

CPT 27000: Percutaneous Adductor Tenotomy of Hip

CPT-27001-HIP-ADDUCTOR-OPEN-TENOTOMY

CPT 27001: Open Tenotomy of Hip Adductor

CPT-27003-ADDUCTOR-TENOTOMY-OBTURATOR-NERVE-REMOVAL

CPT 27003: Open Adductor Tenotomy with Obturator Nerve Removal

CPT-27005-HIP-FLEXOR-OPEN-TENOTOMY

CPT 27005: Open Tenotomy of Hip Flexor Muscles

CPT-27006-HIP-ABDUCTOR-EXTENSOR-OPEN-TENOTOMY

CPT 27006: Open Tenotomy of Hip Abductor/Extensor Muscles

CPT-27027-HIP-BUTTOCK-FASCIOTOMY-UNILATERAL

CPT 27027: Unilateral Hip/Buttock Compartment Fasciotomy

CPT-27030-HIP-JOINT-INCISION-EXPLORATION-DRAINAGE-INFECTION

CPT 27030: Hip Joint Incision, Exploration, and Drainage

Showing 1–10 of 13

References

1.CPT® Codes and Descriptions. AAPC. Retrieved Jul 29, 2026.
2.HCPCS Quarterly Update. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). Retrieved Jul 29, 2026.
3.ICD-10-CM Full Code List. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). Retrieved Jul 29, 2026.

Published by

Trek Health powers OpenPayer with a leading commercial payer intelligence platform, seamlessly converting fragmented payer data into actionable insights for provider organizations.

Trek Health ingests and normalizes Transparency in Coverage data and payer policy updates to give provider organizations a clear view of how commercial reimbursement behaves across markets, payers, and services. Our platform transforms raw payer disclosures into structured intelligence that supports contract evaluation, payer negotiations, and service line strategy. By combining market benchmarks with ongoing policy visibility, Trek helps teams identify variability, risk, and opportunity in commercial reimbursement. The result is faster insight, stronger negotiating positions, and more informed financial decisions.

Clinical & Coding Specifications

Clinical Context

Coding Specifications

Modifier	Description	When to Use
`LT`	Left side	Use when the fasciotomy is performed on the left hip/thigh
`RT`	Right side	Use when the fasciotomy is performed on the right hip/thigh
`50`	Bilateral procedure	Use when fasciotomies are performed on both limbs during the same operative session
`51`	Multiple procedures	Use when other distinct CPT-coded procedures are performed in the same operative session in addition to the fasciotomy
`52`	Reduced services	Use when the procedure is partially reduced or not completed as originally planned
`53`	Discontinued procedure	Use when the procedure is terminated due to patient condition or intraoperative complication
`59`	Distinct procedural service	Use to indicate a separate, distinct procedural service from other billed procedures on the same day
`22`	Increased procedural services	Use when the fasciotomy requires substantially greater work than typical (extensive dissection, unusual complexity); documentation must support
`78`	Return to OR for related procedure during global period	Use if the patient returns to the operating room for a related procedure during the global post-op period
`79`	Unrelated procedure or service during global period	Use when an unrelated procedure is performed during the global period
`26`	Professional component	Use if reporting only the professional component of a service that has a technical component (rare for this operative code)

Taxonomy Code	Specialty	Notes
207RC0000X	Orthopaedic Surgery	Orthopedic surgeons commonly perform thigh/hip fasciotomies for trauma-related compartment syndrome
208000000X	General Surgery	Trauma/general surgeons perform fasciotomy in multisystem trauma or emergency settings
207L00000X	Vascular Surgery	Vascular surgeons may perform fasciotomy when ischemia/reperfusion injury results in compartment syndrome
208100000X	Surgical Critical Care	Surgical critical care physicians may lead multidisciplinary care and perform procedures in acute settings

Related Diagnoses

ICD-10 Code	Description	Clinical Relevance
`S72.001A`	Fracture of unspecified part of neck of right femur, initial encounter for closed fracture	Femoral fractures can precipitate thigh compartment syndrome requiring fasciotomy
`S72.002A`	Fracture of unspecified part of neck of left femur, initial encounter for closed fracture	Left-sided femoral fractures similarly increase compartment pressure risk
`T79.A11A`	Traumatic compartment syndrome of right lower extremity, initial encounter	Direct indication for fasciotomy to decompress compartments
`T79.A12A`	Traumatic compartment syndrome of left lower extremity, initial encounter	Left-sided traumatic compartment syndrome requiring decompression
`M79.601`	Pain in right hip	Represents localizing symptom that may prompt evaluation for compartment syndrome or other hip/thigh pathology
`M79.602`	Pain in left hip	Left-sided hip pain relevant to clinical presentation leading to fasciotomy
`I97.410`	Iatrogenic compartment syndrome of right lower limb	Compartment syndrome following medical intervention (e.g., reperfusion) necessitating fasciotomy
`I97.411`	Iatrogenic compartment syndrome of left lower limb	Left-sided iatrogenic compartment syndrome requiring decompression

Related CPT Codes

CPT Code	Description	Relationship to This Procedure
`11012`	Debridement of extensive soft tissue (e.g., for infected or necrotic tissue)	May be performed during the same admission if fasciotomy reveals devitalized tissue requiring debridement
`12001`	Simple repair of superficial wounds; initial or subsequent	Used for closure of skin lacerations or delayed primary closure of fasciotomy incisions when appropriate
`27600`	Fasciotomy, leg, multiple compartments (e.g., release of anterior, lateral, posterior)	Related lower-extremity compartment release; analogous procedures for calf compartments and considered when thigh and leg compartments are both involved
`29581`	Application of negative pressure wound therapy to trunk/limbs	Commonly used as temporary wound management for fasciotomy incisions prior to definitive closure
`20610`	Arthrocentesis, aspiration and/or injection; major joint or bursa	May be used adjunctively for diagnostic or therapeutic drainage of associated joint effusion in perioperative care

CPT 26990: Incision and Drainage of Deep Pelvic or Hip Abscess

CPT-26991-HIP-BURSA-INCISION-AND-DRAINAGE

CPT 26991: Incision and Drainage of Infected Hip Bursa

CPT-26992-PELVIC-HIP-BONE-CORTEX-INCISION-FOR-INFECTION

CPT 26992: Incision of Pelvic or Hip Bone Cortex for Infection

CPT-27000-PERCUTANEOUS-ADDUCTOR-TENOTOMY-HIP

CPT 27000: Percutaneous Adductor Tenotomy of Hip

CPT-27001-HIP-ADDUCTOR-OPEN-TENOTOMY

CPT 27001: Open Tenotomy of Hip Adductor

CPT-27003-ADDUCTOR-TENOTOMY-OBTURATOR-NERVE-REMOVAL

CPT 27003: Open Adductor Tenotomy with Obturator Nerve Removal

CPT-27005-HIP-FLEXOR-OPEN-TENOTOMY

CPT 27005: Open Tenotomy of Hip Flexor Muscles

CPT-27006-HIP-ABDUCTOR-EXTENSOR-OPEN-TENOTOMY

CPT 27006: Open Tenotomy of Hip Abductor/Extensor Muscles

CPT-27027-HIP-BUTTOCK-FASCIOTOMY-UNILATERAL

CPT 27027: Unilateral Hip/Buttock Compartment Fasciotomy

CPT-27030-HIP-JOINT-INCISION-EXPLORATION-DRAINAGE-INFECTION

CPT 27030: Hip Joint Incision, Exploration, and Drainage

Showing 1–10 of 13

References

1.CPT® Codes and Descriptions. AAPC. Retrieved Jul 29, 2026.
2.HCPCS Quarterly Update. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). Retrieved Jul 29, 2026.
3.ICD-10-CM Full Code List. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). Retrieved Jul 29, 2026.

Published by

Trek Health powers OpenPayer with a leading commercial payer intelligence platform, seamlessly converting fragmented payer data into actionable insights for provider organizations.

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CPT 27025: Fasciotomy, Hip or Thigh

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Billing Code Overview

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CPT 27025: Fasciotomy, Hip or Thigh

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Billing Code Overview

Clinical & Coding Specifications

Clinical Context

Coding Specifications

Related Diagnoses

Related CPT Codes

Related Codes

References

Clinical & Coding Specifications

Clinical Context

Coding Specifications

Related Diagnoses

Related CPT Codes

Related Codes

References