Summary & Overview
CPT 27380: Primary Repair of Infrapatellar (Patellar) Tendon
CPT code 27380 represents primary repair of the infrapatellar tendon, an acute surgical procedure to restore continuity of the tendon that connects the patella to the tibia. This code captures early, definitive operative management of patellar tendon disruptions that impair the knee extensor mechanism. Nationally, accurate coding for this procedure matters for clinical tracking, resource planning, and appropriate payment for orthopedic surgical services provided in hospitals and ambulatory surgical centers.
Key payers included in this analysis are Aetna, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Cigna Health, UnitedHealthcare, and Medicare. Readers will find a concise overview of the code’s clinical intent, typical places of service, and common billing considerations. The publication provides benchmarks where available, notes of relevant policy updates affecting inpatient and outpatient surgical claims, and context on documentation elements that support medical necessity for early tendon repair.
Clinicians, coding professionals, and policy analysts will gain an understanding of how CPT code 27380 is used, the clinical scenarios it represents, and the administrative issues that commonly arise with billing acute tendon repair procedures. Data not available in the input.
Billing Code Overview
CPT code 27380 describes primary repair of the infrapatellar tendon, the tendon running from the patella to the tibia that is part of the quadriceps mechanism. Primary repair denotes surgical repair performed within a few days of injury to restore tendon continuity and knee extensor function.
Service type: Surgical tendon repair / Orthopedic procedure
Typical site of service: Hospital operating room or ambulatory surgical center, depending on clinical presentation and facility resources.
Data not available in the input.
Clinical & Coding Specifications
Clinical Context
A 34-year-old recreational soccer player presents to the emergency department after a direct blow to the anterior knee with an audible snap and immediate inability to actively extend the knee. Physical exam shows a palpable defect inferior to the patella and significant quadriceps weakness. Radiographs exclude fracture; ultrasound or MRI confirms complete rupture of the infrapatellar (patellar) tendon. The injury is acute, within 48–72 hours of trauma. The patient is consented for operative management and taken to the operating room for primary repair of the infrapatellar tendon under general or regional anesthesia. Intraoperative steps include exposure of the tendon ends, debridement of devitalized tissue, end-to-end tendon repair with nonabsorbable sutures, possible patellar bone tunnel fixation or suture anchor augmentation, layered wound closure, and sterile dressing. Postoperative workflow includes immediate neurovascular checks, immobilization in extension with a knee brace or cast, pain control, discharge with weight-bearing as tolerated per surgeon protocol or non–weight-bearing depending on fixation, and scheduled follow-up for wound check and progressive rehabilitation with physical therapy starting per surgeon-directed timeline.
Coding Specifications
| Modifier | Description | When to Use |
|---|---|---|
26 | Professional component | When reporting only the physician’s professional component separate from technical services provided by another entity. |
50 | Bilateral procedure | When the infrapatellar tendon repair is performed on both knees in the same operative session. |
51 | Multiple procedures | When 27380 is reported with other distinct procedures during the same operative session. |
52 | Reduced services | When the procedure is partially reduced or not completed as described. |
53 | Discontinued procedure | When the procedure is started but discontinued due to unforeseen circumstances. |
59 | Distinct procedural service | When a separate and distinct procedure is performed at a different site or session and needs to be distinguished from 27380. |
62 | Two surgeons | When two surgeons work together as primary surgeons performing distinct portions of the repair. |
79 | Unrelated procedure or service by the same physician during the postoperative period | When an unrelated procedure is performed during the global period for 27380. |
LT | Left side | When the procedure is performed on the left knee. |
RT | Right side | When the procedure is performed on the right knee. |
58 | Staged or related procedure by the same physician during the postoperative period | When the repair is staged and a planned second-stage procedure follows the initial repair. |
22 | Increased procedural services | When work, time, or effort substantially exceeds typical for 27380. |
24 | Unrelated E/M by the same physician during postoperative period | When an unrelated evaluation and management service is provided during the global period (Note: 24 is not in the provided list; therefore Data not available in the input.) |
| Taxonomy Code | Specialty | Notes |
|---|---|---|
207L00000X | Orthopedic Surgery | Primary specialty performing tendon repairs of the knee. |
2080S0002X | General Surgery | May perform extremity tendon repairs in some settings. |
208000000X | Family Medicine | In rural or limited-access settings, family physicians with surgical skills may perform acute tendon repairs. |
363A00000X | Physical Therapy | Provides postoperative rehabilitation and functional recovery guidance. |
Related Diagnoses
| ICD-10 Code | Description | Clinical Relevance |
|---|---|---|
S86.011A | Strain of muscle, fascia and tendon of right lower leg, initial encounter | Acute traumatic injury category that may be used when an infrapatellar tendon rupture is clinically described in the lower leg region. |
S86.012A | Strain of muscle, fascia and tendon of left lower leg, initial encounter | As above for the left side. |
S86.011D | Strain of muscle, fascia and tendon of right lower leg, subsequent encounter | Used for follow-up encounters after initial treatment. |
S86.012D | Strain of muscle, fascia and tendon of left lower leg, subsequent encounter | As above for the left side. |
M66.861 | Spontaneous rupture of right extensor (muscle, tendon) of lower leg | Used when tendon rupture occurs nontraumatically. |
M66.862 | Spontaneous rupture of left extensor (muscle, tendon) of lower leg | As above for the left side. |
S83.042A | Sprain of posterior cruciate ligament of left knee, initial encounter | Included when there is concomitant ligamentous injury that may alter surgical planning. |
S83.041A | Sprain of posterior cruciate ligament of right knee, initial encounter | As above for the right side. |
Related CPT Codes
| CPT Code | Description | Relationship to This Procedure |
|---|---|---|
27500 | Repair, ruptured quadriceps tendon, primary or secondary | Performed when the quadriceps tendon (proximal to the patella) rather than the infrapatellar tendon requires repair; may be needed for concomitant injuries. |
29880 | Arthroscopically aided anterior cruciate ligament repair/augmentation or reconstruction | May be performed in the same setting if intraarticular pathology (e.g., ACL injury) is identified and addressed. |
27427 | Ligamentous reconstruction (augmentation), knee; collateral ligament | May be performed if associated collateral ligament injury requires repair or reconstruction during the same surgical episode. |
20670 | Removal of deep implant; complicated (e.g., buried screw) | Performed in a subsequent procedure if hardware (anchors, screws) used for tendon fixation requires removal. |
29999 | Unlisted procedure, arthroscopy | Used selectively when a specific arthroscopic adjunct or novel technique related to tendon repair has no direct CPT equivalent. |