Find policies, billing codes, payers, states, and providers
CPT 27487: Revision Arthroplasty of Knee, Femoral and Tibial Components
CPT code 27487 represents revision arthroplasty of the knee involving revision of both femoral and tibial components and possible use of allograft. Nationally, this code captures complex orthopedic reconstructive procedures performed when a previously implanted knee prosthesis requires removal and replacement due to mechanical failure, pain, infection, or wear. These procedures are resource-intensive, typically performed in hospital operating rooms with potential inpatient stays and significant postoperative care needs.
Key payers in this analysis include Aetna, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Cigna Health, United Healthcare, and Medicare. Readers will find an overview of clinical context for revision total knee arthroplasty, typical sites of service, common diagnostic reasons that lead to revision, and how this code relates to closely associated procedure codes. The publication provides benchmarks and reimbursement context where available, highlights coding relationships to related procedure codes, and summarizes expected billing considerations for this service line. The content is intended for clinical coders, reimbursement analysts, and health plan policy staff seeking a concise reference to CPT code 27487 and its role in national orthopedic surgical care.
Customize your policy alerts
Sign up for cpt 27487 policy alerts
Get alerted when payer policies referencing 27487 are released or updated.
Monitor payer policy activity
Billing Code Overview
CPT code 27487 describes a revision arthroplasty of the knee in which the provider revises both the femoral and tibial components of a previously implanted knee prosthesis. The procedure involves removal of an existing artificial knee joint and placement of a new prosthesis; an allograft may or may not be used.
Service Type: Revision total knee arthroplasty (both femoral and tibial components revised).
Typical Site of Service: Inpatient or hospital-based operating room, where complex joint revision surgery and postoperative inpatient care are provided.
National Reimbursement Benchmarks
National means show Medicare at $1,595.60 versus BUCA (average commercial) at $5,642.00, indicating BUCA averages roughly $4,046.40 higher than Medicare for CPT 27487. This gap highlights a substantial split between the federal reimbursement baseline and a typical commercial benchmark, with BUCA substantially above Medicare’s mean and sitting near the higher end of commercial averages.
Dispersion measured as the interquartile difference (P75 minus P25) varies notably: Blue Cross Blue Shield’s IQR is $11,745.00, the widest in the group, followed by BUCA at $7,487.20 and UnitedHealth Group at $1,892.90. Aetna shows one of the tighter spreads at $1,328.10 and Cigna’s IQR is $2,009.70. Medicare’s IQR is narrow at $115.00, reflecting the most consistent locality-level rates among the payers listed.