Summary & Overview
CPT 27479: Epiphyseal Implant for Growth Arrest Near Knee
CPT code 27479 represents a surgical growth-modulation procedure that arrests growth of the leg bones by implanting devices, such as screws, into the epiphyseal region near the knee. This intervention is clinically important for pediatric and adolescent patients with significant limb-length discrepancies or progressive angular deformities, offering a reversible or growth-directed alternative to osteotomy.
Key national payers covered in this analysis include Aetna, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Cigna Health, UnitedHealthcare, and Medicare. The publication outlines how CPT code 27479 is categorized, typical clinical indications, and expected sites of service. Readers will find concise benchmarks on utilization patterns and billing practices, discussion of documentation and coding considerations, and a clinical context describing when growth plate arrest procedures are typically employed.
The report is designed for coding professionals, surgical providers, and payer policy staff. It summarizes operational implications for claim submission, highlights potential areas for clinical documentation improvement, and flags policy and reimbursement themes relevant to orthopedic growth-modulation procedures. Data not available in the input are noted where applicable.
Billing Code Overview
CPT code 27479 describes a surgical procedure to arrest growth of the long bones of the leg by placing implants, such as screws, in the epiphyseal area near the knee. This technique is used to modulate or stop physeal (growth plate) activity to manage limb length discrepancy or angular deformities during skeletal growth.
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Service type: Surgical growth modulation of the tibia or femur (epiphyseal implant technique)
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Typical site of service: Hospital operating room or ambulatory surgery center
Data not available in the input for payers, associated taxonomies, ICD-10 diagnoses, and related codes.
Clinical & Coding Specifications
Clinical Context
A typical patient is an adolescent with limb-length discrepancy or projected excessive growth of the distal femur or proximal tibia causing angular deformity or gait disturbance. The patient often presents to pediatric orthopedics with asymmetric limb length noted by caregiver or on school screening, progressive knee pain, or early mechanical symptoms. Imaging (standing long-leg alignment radiographs and knee radiographs) confirms growth plate activity and predicts significant future discrepancy or angular deformity. The clinical workflow includes preoperative assessment (history, physical exam, growth prediction with bone age or multiplier method), informed consent, perioperative anesthesia clearance, and scheduling for an outpatient or short-stay operative procedure. In the operating room or ambulatory surgery center, under general or regional anesthesia, the surgeon localizes the distal femoral and/or proximal tibial physis and inserts small cannulated screws or tethering implants across the physis to temporarily arrest growth (epiphysiodesis). Postoperative care includes recovery, pain control, wound checks, activity restrictions, and outpatient follow-up with serial radiographs to monitor growth arrest and hardware position. Typical sites of service are the ambulatory surgical center or hospital outpatient department for adolescents; inpatient stay is uncommon but may occur for medical comorbidity or social reasons.
Coding Specifications
| Modifier | Description | When to Use |
|---|---|---|
LT | Left side | Use when the procedure is performed on the left lower extremity. |