Summary & Overview
CPT 27501: Closed Reduction of Supracondylar Femur Fracture
CPT code 27501 denotes a closed reduction procedure for supracondylar fractures of the femur, with or without intercondylar extension, performed without open manipulation. This orthopedic procedure is a key acute-care intervention for distal femur fractures and has implications for surgical workflow, hospital resource use, and payer authorization patterns nationwide. It is commonly performed in hospital operating rooms or ambulatory surgery centers depending on injury severity and comorbidities.
Key national payers addressed include Aetna, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Cigna Health, UnitedHealthcare, and Medicare. Readers will find a concise clinical context for the code, typical sites of service, and which payer groups commonly cover the service. The publication outlines common modifiers used with this code and notes data availability limitations where applicable. It also summarizes what stakeholders can expect to learn: billing and coding considerations for 27501, typical clinical scenarios that trigger use of the code, and operational implications for surgical scheduling and claims processing. Data not available in the input is identified explicitly where relevant.
Billing Code Overview
CPT code 27501 describes a closed reduction of a supracondylar fracture of the femur, with or without intercondylar extension, performed without manipulation to repair the bone and set it for healing. The procedure focuses on realigning the distal femur after a fracture in the supracondylar region using non-open techniques.
Service Type: Fracture management / Orthopedic procedure
Typical Site of Service: Hospital inpatient or outpatient surgical setting, or ambulatory surgery center, depending on clinical severity and need for perioperative monitoring. Data not available in the input.
Clinical & Coding Specifications
Clinical Context
A typical patient is an adult or pediatric individual who sustained an acute distal femur injury—commonly from a fall, motor vehicle collision, or sports trauma—presenting with pain, swelling, and inability to bear weight. Initial evaluation in the emergency department or orthopedic clinic includes history, focused physical exam, and radiographs (AP and lateral) confirming a supracondylar femur fracture with or without intercondylar extension. Closed reduction under conscious sedation or general anesthesia is planned when the fracture alignment can be restored without an open approach. The workflow: triage and trauma assessment, imaging, informed consent, preoperative clearance, administration of appropriate anesthesia/sedation, closed manipulation and reduction with fluoroscopic guidance, post-reduction imaging to confirm alignment and joint congruity, immobilization (cast, splint, or external fixation as indicated), and post-procedure discharge instructions with orthopedic follow-up for further management and potential fixation if closed reduction is unsuccessful or unstable.
Coding Specifications
| Modifier | Description | When to Use |
|---|---|---|
51 | Multiple procedures | When other distinct surgical procedures are billed on the same day in addition to the closed reduction |
52 |