Summary & Overview
CPT 27240: Closed Treatment of Femoral Fracture Near Trochanters
CPT code 27240 denotes the closed treatment (closed reduction) of femoral fractures located between, around, or below the trochanters, with manipulation of the bone and optional use of skin or skeletal traction. This procedure code is critical for coding acute orthopedic trauma care nationally, as femoral shaft and trochanteric fractures are common, high-cost events that frequently require urgent reduction and affect hospital, ambulatory surgical, and emergency care workflows. Accurate use of this CPT code supports appropriate billing, quality measurement, and resource planning across trauma and orthopedic services.
Key payers covered in this analysis include Aetna, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Cigna Health, UnitedHealthcare, and Medicare. The content outlines what clinicians, coding professionals, and policy analysts need to know about clinical context, typical sites of service, and common billing considerations for 27240.
Readers will learn the clinical scope and service setting for CPT code 27240, the payers included in comparative coverage references, and where to expect this code in claims lines. The publication highlights benchmark elements and policy-relevant considerations such as site-of-service implications and the role of closed reduction techniques in acute fracture management. Data not available in the input is noted where applicable.
Billing Code Overview
CPT code 27240 describes a closed treatment of a femoral fracture between, around, or below the trochanters. The procedure involves manipulation or adjustment of the fractured femur and may be performed with or without skin or skeletal traction.
Service Type: Orthopedic fracture management — closed reduction of femoral shaft/pertrochanteric fracture
Typical Site of Service: Hospital inpatient or outpatient surgical setting, emergency department, or ambulatory surgical center
Clinical & Coding Specifications
Clinical Context
A 72-year-old male falls at home and presents to the emergency department with acute left thigh pain, inability to bear weight, and shortening of the left lower extremity. Radiographs confirm an intertrochanteric femoral fracture. The orthopedic trauma team evaluates the patient, obtains informed consent, and expedites preoperative medical optimization. In the operating room under regional or general anesthesia, the surgeon performs a closed treatment of the femoral fracture between, around, or below the trochanters: manipulation and closed reduction with or without application of skin traction or temporary skeletal traction, and placement of internal fixation (for example, intramedullary nail) if indicated. Postprocedure, the patient is monitored in the PACU, receives pain control and DVT prophylaxis, and is planned for inpatient physical therapy and discharge when medically stable.
Coding Specifications
| Modifier | Description | When to Use |
|---|---|---|
22 | Increased procedural services | Use when work, time, or complexity significantly exceeds typical for 27240. Documentation must justify the increased resources. |
23 |