CPT 27380: Primary Repair of Infrapatellar (Patellar) Tendon - OpenPayer

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.

AetnaBlue Cross Blue ShieldCigna HealthUnitedHealthcareMedicareCPT 27380infrapatellar tendon repairorthopedic surgerytendon repairambulatory surgeryhospital inpatientsurgical codingprocedure coding

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.

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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.

CPT 27403: Knee Arthrotomy with Meniscus Repair

cpt-27479-epiphyseal-implant-growth-arrest-near-knee

CPT 27479: Epiphyseal Implant for Growth Arrest Near Knee

cpt-27457-proximal-tibia-fibula-osteotomy-knee-realignment

CPT 27457: Proximal Tibia and Fibula Osteotomy for Knee Realignment

cpt-27385-hamstring-quadriceps-rupture-repair-suture

CPT 27385: Hamstring or Quadriceps Primary Rupture Repair

cpt-27400-hamstring-transfer-to-femur

CPT 27400: Hamstring Muscle/Tendon Transfer to Femur

cpt-27485-hemiepiphysiodesis-growth-modulation-knee

CPT 27485: Hemiepiphysiodesis (Growth Modulation) Near the Knee

cpt-27420-patellar-tendon-transfer-bone-block

CPT 27420: Patellar Tendon Transfer with Bone Block

cpt-27458-femoral-lengthening-with-internal-device

CPT 27458: Femoral Osteotomy with Intramedullary Lengthening Device

cpt-27472-femur-nonunion-malunion-repair-with-bone-graft

CPT 27472: Repair of Femur Nonunion or Malunion with Bone Graft

cpt-27466-femur-lengthening-osteodistraction

CPT 27466: Femur Lengthening by Osteodistraction

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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.

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