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.
Sign up for cpt 27120 policy alerts
Get alerted when payer policies referencing 27120 are released or updated.
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. |
52 | Reduced services | Use when 27120 is partially reduced or not completed as documented. |
53 | Discontinued procedure | Use when 27120 is started but halted due to extenuating circumstances prior to completion. |
62 | Two surgeons | Use when two surgeons with distinct skills perform portions of 27120 concurrently and documentation supports separate roles. |
66 | Surgical team | Use when a surgical team performs 27120 with services reported per institutional policy and team rules. |
76 | Repeat procedure by same physician | Data not available in the input. |
78 | Unplanned return to OR by same physician following initial 27120 | Use for related return to the operating room during the global period for treatment of a complication. |
79 | Unrelated procedure or service during the postoperative period | Data not available in the input. |
LT | Left side | Use when 27120 is performed on the left acetabulum. |
RT | Right side | Use when 27120 is performed on the right acetabulum. |
50 | Bilateral procedure | Use when bilateral acetabuloplasty is performed; follow payer rules for bilateral reporting. |
51 | Multiple procedures | Use when 27120 is performed along with additional distinct procedures during the same session. |
22 | Increased procedural services | (See above) |
23 | Unusual anesthesia | Use when 27120 is performed under general anesthesia when normally performed with local/regional only and documentation supports extraordinary circumstances. |
| Taxonomy Code | Specialty | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 207X00000X | Orthopaedic Surgery | Primary specialty performing acetabuloplasty and hip-preserving procedures. |
| 207L00000X | Orthopaedic Sports Medicine | Common specialty for femoroacetabular impingement and acetabular rim procedures. |
| 2080S0002X | Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation | Often involved in pre- and postoperative rehabilitation management. |
| 207P00000X | Orthopaedic Surgery of the Lower Extremity | Focused expertise on hip preservation and reconstructive procedures. |
Related Diagnoses
| ICD-10 Code | Description | Clinical Relevance |
|---|---|---|
M16.11 | Unilateral primary osteoarthritis of right hip | Primary OA causing acetabular wear and deformity often treated with acetabuloplasty when joint-preserving correction is indicated. |
M16.12 | Unilateral primary osteoarthritis of left hip | As above for the left hip. |
M21.20 | Acquired deformity, unspecified site | Covers acetabular or pelvic deformities that may require reshaping procedures. |
M24.85 | Other specific joint derangements of hip | Includes impingement syndromes and labral-related pathology associated with acetabular overcoverage. |
Q65.8 | Other congenital deformities of hip | Congenital acetabular dysplasia or deformity corrected by acetabuloplasty in select cases. |
Related CPT Codes
| CPT Code | Description | Relationship to This Procedure |
|---|---|---|
27299 | Unlisted procedure, pelvis or hip joint | Report when a specific unlisted hip/pelvis procedure not described by standard codes is performed in conjunction with or instead of 27120. |
29862 | Arthroscopy, hip, surgical; acetabuloplasty (i.e., treatment of pincer lesion) | Common arthroscopic alternative or adjunct to open 27120 for resection of acetabular rim in femoroacetabular impingement. |
27130 | Arthrotomy, acetabulum; with or without graft | May be performed for more extensive acetabular reconstruction or when open approach includes grafting in addition to acetabuloplasty. |
27299 | Unlisted procedure, pelvis or hip joint | (See above) |
27370 | Osteotomy, pelvis; acetabular (e.g., periacetabular osteotomy) | Performed when structural reorientation of the acetabulum is required rather than rim trimming; may precede or replace isolated 27120. |