CPT 27552 Closed Knee Reduction Reimbursement

CPT code 27552 represents closed reduction of a knee dislocation performed under anesthesia. This acute, typically urgent procedure restores joint alignment without open surgery and is performed in settings equipped for anesthesia, such as operating rooms and emergency departments. Nationally, accurate reporting of this code is important for appropriate procedural documentation, resource allocation for urgent orthopedic care, and consistent claims processing for high-acuity musculoskeletal injuries.

Key payers commonly relevant to coverage and claims for this service include Aetna, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Cigna Health, UnitedHealthcare, and Medicare. Readers will find a concise review of the clinical context for 27552, typical sites of service, and common billing considerations for urgent orthopedic procedures. The publication outlines benchmarks and reimbursement context where available, discusses relevant coding guidance and documentation expectations, and highlights policy updates that can affect claim adjudication and payment timelines. Clinical implications, such as the need for anesthesia and the urgent nature of knee dislocation management, are also addressed to inform coding, billing, and administrative workflows.

Data not available in the input for associated taxonomies, ICD-10 diagnoses, and related codes is noted elsewhere in the full publication.

Billing Code Overview

CPT code 27552 describes a procedure for closed reduction of knee dislocation under anesthesia. The service involves manual manipulation to restore normal knee joint alignment without open surgical exposure. The service type is a closed joint reduction under anesthesia, and the typical site of service is an operating room, emergency department, or other facility capable of providing anesthesia and procedural sedation.

Clinical Context

A typical patient is an adult who presents to the emergency department after a high-energy mechanism such as a motor vehicle collision, a fall from height, or a sports injury and is found to have an acute knee dislocation with gross joint instability, deformity, and neurovascular concern. The patient undergoes rapid neurovascular assessment (pulses, Doppler, ankle–brachial index) and plain radiographs to evaluate alignment and associated fractures. Pain control and immobilization are provided while preparations for closed reduction occur.

The procedure coded by 27552 is performed by an orthopaedic surgeon or an emergency physician with appropriate privileges. The patient receives procedural sedation or general anesthesia in the ED, procedure room, or operating room depending on hemodynamic status and need for vascular repair. Closed manipulation is performed to reduce the dislocated tibiofemoral joint. Post-reduction neurovascular exam and vascular imaging (e.g., CT angiography) are performed if pulses were diminished or concern persists. The knee is immobilized (splint, posterior long-leg slab, or external fixator if unstable) and the patient is admitted for observation, vascular or ligamentous repair planning, or transfer to definitive orthopaedic care.

Clinical workflow steps:

Initial triage, analgesia, and immobilization.
Focused musculoskeletal and neurovascular examination and radiographs.
Procedural consent and anesthesia (sedation or general) as indicated.
Closed reduction maneuver under anesthesia (27552) with post-reduction assessment.
Post-reduction imaging and vascular studies as needed.

Coding Specifications

Modifier	Description	When to Use
`23`	Unusual anesthesia	Use when the procedure required general anesthesia for reasons unrelated to the procedure’s usual requirements (e.g., patient agitation or multiple comorbidities).
`25`	Significant, separately identifiable evaluation and management service	Data not available in the input.
`52`	Reduced services	Use when the closed reduction is attempted but only partially completed or curtailed.
`53`	Discontinued procedure	Use when the attempt at closed reduction is started but aborted due to patient instability or unexpected findings.
`59`	Distinct procedural service	Data not available in the input.
`76`	Repeat procedure by same physician	Data not available in the input.
`78`	Unplanned return to the operating/procedure room by the same physician following initial procedure for a related procedure during the postoperative period	Use if the patient returns to the OR for repeat closed reduction or conversion to open reduction during the global period.
`79`	Unrelated procedure or service by the same physician during the postoperative period	Data not available in the input.
`80`	Assistant surgeon	Use when an assistant surgeon is documented as participating in the closed reduction.
`81`	Minimum assistant surgeon	Use when minimal assistant surgeon participation is documented.
`62`	Two surgeons	Use when two surgeons of different specialties are required to perform the reduction.
`AA`	Anesthesia performed by the anesthesiologist	Data not available in the input.
`LT`	Left side	Use to indicate the procedure was performed on the left knee.
`RT`	Right side	Use to indicate the procedure was performed on the right knee.

Taxonomy Code	Specialty	Notes
207X00000X	Orthopaedic Surgery	Orthopaedic trauma surgeons commonly perform closed knee reduction and subsequent definitive care.
2080P0004X	Emergency Medicine	Emergency physicians frequently perform closed manipulative reductions in the ED under sedation.
208000000X	General Surgery	General surgeons with trauma privileges may perform reductions in trauma centers if orthopaedics not immediately available.
226E00000X	Vascular Surgery	Vascular surgeons are involved when vascular injury is suspected or confirmed after reduction.
363L00000X	Anesthesiology	Anesthesiologists provide procedural sedation or general anesthesia during reduction in higher-acuity settings.

Related Diagnoses

ICD-10 Code	Description	Clinical Relevance
`S83.001A`	Dislocation of unspecified knee, initial encounter	Represents an acute knee dislocation presenting for closed reduction.
`S83.031A`	Dislocation of patella, initial encounter	Patellar dislocation may present similarly and occasionally requires closed reduction maneuvers.
`S83.101A`	Anterior dislocation of knee, initial encounter	Specifies anterior tibiofemoral dislocation, a common displacement pattern relevant to reduction technique.
`S83.111A`	Posterior dislocation of knee, initial encounter	Posterior dislocations are frequently associated with neurovascular injury and need urgent reduction.
`S84.02XA`	Injury of popliteal artery, initial encounter	Vascular injury code relevant when pulses are diminished before or after reduction; may prompt vascular imaging or intervention.
`M23.50`	Internal derangement of unspecified knee, unspecified knee	Used for associated ligamentous injuries identified during definitive care after reduction.
`T14.8`	Other injury of unspecified body region	Used when the precise knee injury coding is not yet determined at presentation but reduction is performed for traumatic dislocation.

Related CPT Codes

CPT Code	Description	Relationship to This Procedure
`73560`	Radiologic examination, knee; 3 views	Pre- and post-reduction plain radiographs to document dislocation and confirm reduction.
`34701`	Thromboembolectomy, arterial; with thrombectomy/embolectomy, upper or lower extremity (when performed for acute arterial injury)	Performed if vascular compromise with arterial occlusion is identified after reduction and requires immediate revascularization.
`27495`	Repair, primary, torn or ruptured posterior cruciate ligament; with or without graft	Used for operative repair of ligamentous injuries discovered during definitive management following reduction.
`20690`	Application of external fixation device (separate procedure)	Applied when the knee remains grossly unstable after closed reduction and temporary stabilization is required.
`99284`	Emergency department visit, high severity	Typical ED evaluation level when a patient presents with knee dislocation requiring reduction.

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Summary & Overview

CPT 27552: Closed Reduction of Knee Dislocation under Anesthesia