Summary & Overview
CPT 27140: Greater Trochanter Osteotomy and Transfer
CPT code 27140 represents a surgical osteotomy involving cutting and transferring the greater trochanter of the femur, a procedure used to modify hip biomechanics and gluteal muscle mechanics. Nationally, this operative code is relevant for orthopedic surgical practices, hospital billing departments, and payers evaluating surgical necessity and bundling with hip procedures. Its application affects reimbursement pathways for hip reconstruction and corrective procedures.
Key payers discussed include Aetna, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Cigna Health, UnitedHealthcare, and Medicare. Readers will find a concise clinical context for the procedure, typical sites of service, and the common modifiers associated with this code. The publication outlines how CPT code 27140 is used in claims, typical service settings, and areas where policy or documentation commonly influences payment and coverage decisions. It also highlights benchmarking topics and policy updates that affect billing, such as bundling with related hip surgeries and inpatient versus outpatient site-of-service considerations.
This summary serves providers, coders, and policy analysts seeking a clear national overview of the code’s clinical intent, billing context, and payer relevance.
Billing Code Overview
CPT code 27140 describes an osteotomy of the greater trochanter with distal and lateral transfer. In this procedure the surgeon cuts the greater trochanter, a bony prominence on the outer side of the femur, and repositions it downward and outward along the femoral shaft to alter muscle tension and hip biomechanics.
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Service type: Surgical orthopedic procedure (trochanteric osteotomy and transfer)
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Typical site of service: Inpatient or outpatient surgical setting, commonly performed in an operating room under general or regional anesthesia
Clinical & Coding Specifications
Clinical Context
A typical patient for 27140 is an adult with lateral hip pain, bursitis, or abductor insufficiency secondary to trochanteric overgrowth or malpositioning from prior hip surgery or developmental deformity. The patient often presents with gait abnormality, lateral hip tenderness, and weakness of hip abduction after conservative care (physical therapy, injections, activity modification) has failed. Imaging (plain radiographs and sometimes CT) confirms prominence or malalignment of the greater trochanter contributing to mechanical abutment or abductor tendon dysfunction. The clinical workflow includes preoperative assessment (history, focused hip exam, imaging, medical clearance), anesthesia evaluation, informed consent discussing risks/benefits, and scheduling in an outpatient surgery center or hospital operating room. Intraoperatively, the orthopedic surgeon performs a greater trochanter osteotomy with distal and lateral transfer to improve abductor lever arm and reduce tendon impingement; fixation with screws or wires may be performed. Postoperative care includes wound management, pain control, physical therapy with protected weightbearing, and follow-up radiographs to confirm fixation and healing.
Coding Specifications
| Modifier | Description | When to Use |
|---|---|---|
00 | Default/No modifier | Use when no specific modifier applies and payer requires a default modifier. |