Summary & Overview
CPT 27120: Acetabuloplasty, Surgical Reshaping of the Hip Socket
CPT code 27120 identifies acetabuloplasty, a surgical reshaping of the acetabulum intended to correct congenital hip dislocation or to address structural contributors to hip osteoarthritis. This code captures a targeted orthopedic reconstructive procedure that can materially affect function, pain, and the need for later joint replacement. Nationally, procedures coded as CPT code 27120 are relevant to surgical case mix, inpatient and outpatient orthopedic surgical utilization, and payment policy for hip reconstruction.
Key payers in the scope of this analysis include Aetna, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Cigna Health, UnitedHealthcare, and Medicare. Readers will find a clinical context for when acetabuloplasty is used, typical settings of care, and commonly applied billing modifiers and service considerations. The analysis also summarizes payer coverage patterns, reimbursement benchmarks, and policy updates that affect surgical authorization, site-of-service determinations, and coding documentation requirements.
This publication is intended for billing professionals, orthopedic surgeons, hospital coding staff, and policy analysts seeking a concise reference on clinical intent, coding nomenclature, and the payer landscape for CPT code 27120.
Billing Code Overview
CPT code 27120 describes an acetabuloplasty, a surgical procedure to reshape the acetabulum, the cup-shaped socket of the hip joint. The procedure is performed to correct congenital dislocation of the hip or to treat hip osteoarthritis by modifying the bony architecture of the acetabulum to improve joint function and symptom relief.
Service Type: Orthopedic surgical procedure — reconstructive/deformity correction of the hip
Typical Site of Service: Inpatient or outpatient hospital surgical setting; ambulatory surgical center for selected elective cases
Clinical & Coding Specifications
Clinical Context
A 55-year-old patient with progressive right hip pain and radiographic evidence of acetabular deformity and focal osteophyte formation presents for surgical management. Conservative measures including activity modification, physical therapy, and intra-articular corticosteroid injection provided only temporary relief. After preoperative imaging (AP pelvis and cross-table lateral radiographs, and optional CT or MRI to define focal acetabular overcoverage or dysplasia), the orthopedic surgeon schedules an acetabuloplasty to reshape the acetabular rim and correct impingement or restore congruity of the hip joint.
The clinical workflow includes preoperative evaluation with history, focused hip exam, anesthesia assessment, informed consent, perioperative antibiotics, regional or general anesthesia, intraoperative fluoroscopic guidance for resection of the acetabular rim, hemostasis, and routine postoperative protocols including pain control, DVT prophylaxis, and early mobilization with protected weight bearing as indicated. Postoperative follow-up includes wound checks, radiographs to confirm resection, and directed rehabilitation to restore range of motion and gait.
Coding Specifications
| Modifier | Description | When to Use |
|---|---|---|
22 | Increased procedural services | Use when work, time, or difficulty substantially exceeds usual for 27120 and properly documented. |