Summary & Overview

CPT 27220: Closed Treatment of Acetabular (Hip Socket) Fracture

CPT code 27220 represents the closed treatment of an acetabular (hip socket) fracture without manipulation or adjustment of the fractured bones. This procedural code is used in settings where the fracture is managed nonoperatively or with limited closed techniques and is relevant to orthopedic trauma care across hospital inpatient and outpatient environments. Nationally, accurate use of CPT code 27220 affects facility billing, surgical case mix reporting, and claims adjudication for hip fracture management.

Key payers included in this analysis are Aetna, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Cigna Health, UnitedHealthcare, and Medicare. Readers will find a concise overview of clinical intent for the code, common payer coverage patterns, and practical billing considerations tied to service setting and documentation. The publication outlines benchmarks for coding frequency and typical sites of service, highlights policy or guideline updates where applicable, and provides clinical context for when closed treatment is the appropriate coded service.

The content is oriented to coding professionals, revenue cycle staff, and clinical administrators seeking clarity on when to apply CPT code 27220, what to expect from major payers, and how the code fits within broader orthopedic fracture management practice.

AetnaBlue Cross Blue ShieldCigna HealthUnitedHealthcareMedicare27220CPTacetabular fracturehip socket fractureorthopedicsclosed treatmentprocedural codinghospital services

Billing Code Overview

CPT code 27220 describes a closed treatment of an acetabular (hip socket) fracture in which the provider performs treatment without manipulation or adjustment of the fractured bones. The procedure is a closed fracture management service.

Service type: Closed treatment of acetabular fracture
Typical site of service: Hospital inpatient or hospital outpatient setting, including emergency department or operating room environments when fracture management is provided without open reduction

Data not available in the input.

Clinical & Coding Specifications

Clinical Context

A 68-year-old male presents to the emergency department after a low-energy fall at home with hip pain and inability to bear weight. Imaging (pelvic radiographs and CT) demonstrates a nondisplaced fracture of the acetabulum. The orthopedic trauma team evaluates the patient, documents neurovascular status and comorbidities, and determines that the fracture can be managed without open reduction or manipulation under anesthesia. The patient is scheduled for a closed treatment procedure to stabilize the acetabular fracture conservatively, including application of immobilization and placement of any temporary external supports as indicated. The clinical workflow includes preoperative evaluation, informed consent, procedure performed in an operating room or procedure suite (if analgesia or sedation is required), post-procedure neurovascular checks, pain control, thromboprophylaxis planning, and coordination of inpatient or outpatient rehabilitation and follow-up imaging to monitor fracture healing.

Coding Specifications

Modifier	Description	When to Use
`26`	Professional component	Use when billing only the physician’s professional component separate from technical services (rare for this surgical code).
`50`	Bilateral procedure	Use if closed treatment is performed on both right and left acetabula during the same operative session.
`51`	Multiple procedures	Use when this closed treatment is billed along with additional distinct procedures during the same encounter.
`52`	Reduced services	Use when the procedure is partially reduced or not completed as originally described.
`53`	Discontinued procedure	Use when the procedure is started but terminated due to extenuating circumstances or safety concerns.
`54`	Surgical care only	Use when the surgeon bills only for the intraoperative surgical component and another provider bills pre/postoperative care.
`55`	Postoperative management only	Use when the surgeon bills only for postoperative care after another surgeon performed the procedure.
`62`	Two surgeons	Use when two surgeons work together as primary surgeons during complex management of the acetabular fracture.
`78`	Return to operating room for related procedure by same physician	Use when an unplanned return to the OR for a related procedure is required during the postoperative period.
`79`	Unrelated procedure or service by same physician during postoperative period	Use when an unrelated procedure is performed during the global period.
`22`	Increased procedural services	Use when the closed treatment required substantially greater work than usual due to complexity.
`23`	Unusual anesthesia	Use when general anesthesia is contraindicated and a significantly unusual anesthesia circumstance is required.
`25`	Significant, separately identifiable E/M service on same day	Use when a distinct evaluation and management service is provided the same day as the procedure.
`59`	Distinct procedural service	Use to indicate a separate, distinct procedural service not normally reported together, if appropriate.

Taxonomy Code	Specialty	Notes
207L00000X	Orthopaedic Surgery	Primary specialty performing acetabular fracture management.
2080P0206X	Orthopaedic Trauma	Subspecialists focused on pelvic and acetabular fractures.
207K00000X	General Surgery	Occasionally involved in multidisciplinary trauma cases.
208600000X	Anesthesiology	Provides sedation or general/regional anesthesia for the procedure.
207RP1001X	Emergency Medicine	Initial assessment and stabilization prior to definitive orthopedic management.

Related Diagnoses

ICD-10 Code	Description	Clinical Relevance
Data not available in the input.

Related CPT Codes

CPT Code	Description	Relationship to This Procedure
`27220`	Closed treatment of acetabular fracture (no manipulation)	Primary code for nondisplaced acetabular fractures treated without manipulation or open reduction.
`27096`	Closed treatment of pelvic ring fracture; without manipulation	May be reported if pelvic ring injuries are also treated closed during the same encounter.
`27214`	Open treatment of acetabular fracture, with or without internal fixation	Report when closed treatment is not appropriate and open reduction with internal fixation is performed instead.
`20690`	Application of external fixation system (pelvis/hip)	Used when temporary external fixation is applied as part of closed management or stabilization.
`11042`	Debridement; skin and subcutaneous tissue	May be reported if wound debridement is required in conjunction with fracture care.
`73030`	Radiologic examination, hip, two views	Imaging code commonly used pre- and post-procedure to document fracture and healing.