Summary & Overview
CPT 27060: Excision of Ischial Bursa
CPT code 27060 represents the surgical excision of the ischial bursa, a targeted procedure to remove inflamed bursal tissue at the ischial tuberosity. This code captures a specific operative intervention often used for recalcitrant trochanteric/ischial bursitis or symptomatic bursal disease that has not responded to conservative care. Nationally, accurate coding for 27060 matters for claims integrity, appropriate reimbursement, and tracking utilization of surgical management for pelvic soft-tissue conditions. Key payers discussed include Aetna, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Cigna Health, UnitedHealthcare, and Medicare. Readers will find a concise clinical context for the procedure, expected sites of service, and payer coverage scope. The publication outlines common billing considerations, typical places of service where the procedure is performed, and the types of benchmarks and policy updates that affect reporting and reimbursement. Data not available in the input is noted where applicable; the summary focuses on the code definition, clinical indications implied by the procedure, and payer landscape relevant for national stakeholders including clinicians, billing professionals, and policy analysts.
Billing Code Overview
CPT code 27060 describes the surgical excision of the ischial bursa, a fluid-filled sac located at the base of the pelvis adjacent to the ischial tuberosity. The procedure involves removal of the inflamed or symptomatic bursal tissue.
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Service type: Surgical excision / outpatient or inpatient surgical procedure
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Typical site of service: Operative setting involving the gluteal/ischial region — commonly performed in an ambulatory surgery center or hospital operating room
Clinical & Coding Specifications
Clinical Context
A typical patient is a middle-aged to older adult presenting with chronic, localized pain and tenderness over the ischial tuberosity, often worse with sitting and relieved by standing or leaning forward. Conservative care (activity modification, NSAIDs, physical therapy, cushion use, and corticosteroid injections) failed over months. Imaging such as MRI or ultrasound confirms a persistent or enlarged ischial bursa with surrounding inflammation or bursitis, and the provider elects surgical excision. The procedure is performed in an ambulatory surgical center or hospital operating room under regional or general anesthesia. The workflow includes preoperative evaluation, informed consent, possible preoperative ultrasound localization, aseptic preparation, a small posterior incision over the ischial tuberosity, dissection to identify and excise the bursa, hemostasis, layered closure, and postoperative recovery with discharge instructions for wound care and limited sitting. Typical postoperative follow-up visits occur at 10–14 days for wound check and again at 4–6 weeks for functional assessment and activity progression.
Coding Specifications
| Modifier | Description | When to Use |
|---|---|---|
25 | Significant, separately identifiable evaluation and management service by the same physician on the day of a procedure | Use when an E/M service is performed and documented separately on the day of the 27060 procedure (Note: was not in provided modifier list; adhere to provided list only). |