CPT 27562 Closed Patella Reduction Reimbursement | OpenPayer

Summary & Overview

CPT 27562: Closed Reduction of Dislocated Patella

CPT code 27562 denotes a closed reduction of a dislocated patella performed under anesthesia. This code captures a common urgent orthopedic intervention to restore patellar alignment without surgical incision. Nationally, accurate coding of this procedure matters for appropriate grouping of surgical episodes, anesthesia billing, and tracking of orthopedic emergency care volumes.

Key payers typically involved in coverage and claims adjudication for this service include Aetna, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Cigna Health, UnitedHealthcare, and Medicare. Readers will find an overview of clinical context for the procedure, typical sites of service, common billing modifiers, and guidance on where coding complexities commonly arise. The publication outlines benchmarking metrics and payer coverage patterns where available, highlights policy considerations affecting reimbursement and claims submission, and summarizes coding nuances relevant to anesthesia and concurrent procedures. Data not available in the input is noted where applicable.

AetnaBlue Cross Blue ShieldCigna HealthUnitedHealthcareMedicare27562CPTorthopedicspatellar dislocationclosed reductionsurgical procedureanesthesiaemergency careambulatory surgery

Billing Code Overview

CPT code 27562 describes a closed reduction of a dislocated patella: the provider moves the patella back into place without breaking the skin. The procedure requires anesthesia and is a surgical intervention to restore normal patellar alignment.

Service type: Surgical orthopedic procedure (closed reduction)
Typical site of service: Hospital operating room, ambulatory surgery center, or emergency department procedure area depending on clinical setting and anesthesia needs.

Clinical & Coding Specifications

Clinical Context

A typical patient is an adolescent or adult who presents to the emergency department or an urgent care center after a direct blow to the knee or a twisting injury, reporting acute knee pain, visible deformity or a laterally displaced kneecap, and inability to actively extend the knee. Physical exam demonstrates a malpositioned patella with tenderness along the patellofemoral joint and possible hemarthrosis. Radiographs (AP, lateral, and sunrise/tangential) are obtained to assess for associated fractures. When imaging excludes significant fracture requiring open reduction, the orthopedic surgeon or emergency physician performs a closed reduction of the patella under procedural sedation or regional/general anesthesia — documented as a reduction maneuver with successful realignment confirmed by post-reduction radiographs and restoration of active knee extension. Post-reduction care includes neurovascular checks, immobilization in a knee immobilizer or brace, analgesia, discharge instructions, and orthopedic follow-up for possible recurrent instability management or rehabilitation. Typical site of service is the emergency department, ambulatory surgery center, or operating room if anesthesia is required.

Coding Specifications

Modifier	Description	When to Use
`23`	Unusual anesthesia — Non-routine anesthesia for diagnostic or therapeutic procedures	Use when general anesthesia is required for a normally non-anesthetized procedure due to patient condition or intolerance.

CPT 27501: Closed Reduction of Supracondylar Femur Fracture

CPT-27560-CLOSED-REDUCTION-PATELLAR-DISLOCATION

CPT 27560: Closed Reduction of Dislocated Patella

CPT-27524-PATELLAR-FRACTURE-ORIF-PATELLECTOMY-SOFT-TISSUE-REPAIR

CPT 27524: Open Reduction Internal Fixation of Patellar Fracture with Patellectomy and Soft Tissue Repair

CPT-27556-OPEN-REDUCTION-INTERNAL-FIXATION-DISLOCATED-KNEE

CPT 27556: Open Reduction and Internal Fixation of Dislocated Knee

CPT-27513-DISTAL-FEMUR-INTERCONDYLAR-FRACTURE-OPEN-REDUCTION

CPT 27513: Open Reduction, Distal Femur Intercondylar Fracture

27506-OPEN-TREATMENT-OF-FEMORAL-SHAFT-FRACTURE-WITH-OR-WITHOUT

CPT 27506: Open Intramedullary Fixation of Femoral Shaft Fracture

CPT-27519-DISTAL-FEMORAL-EPIPHYSEAL-SEPARATION-OPEN-REDUCTION-FIXATION

CPT 27519: Open Reduction of Distal Femoral Epiphyseal Separation

CPT-27520-CLOSED-REDUCTION-PATELLA-FRACTURE

CPT 27520: Closed Reduction of Patella Fracture

27507-OPEN-TREATMENT-OF-FEMORAL-SHAFT-FRACTURE-WITH-PLATESCREWS

CPT 27507: Open Fixation of Femoral Shaft Fracture with Plate and Screws

CPT-27538-CLOSED-REDUCTION-INTERCONDYLAR-SPINE-KNEE-FRACTURE

CPT 27538: Closed Reduction of Intercondylar Spine or Tuberosity Knee Fracture

Showing 1–10 of 30

Taxonomy Code	Specialty	Notes
207X00000X	Orthopedic Surgery	Most common specialty performing closed patellar reduction and follow-up care.
207L00000X	Emergency Medicine	Frequently performs initial assessment and closed reduction in the ED under sedation.
2084P0800X	Pediatric Orthopedics	Manages patellar dislocations in children and adolescents, including reductions and follow-up.
363LP0200X	Anesthesiology	Provides procedural sedation, regional, or general anesthesia required for the reduction.
2086S0123X	Sports Medicine	Evaluates recurrent instability and provides nonoperative management or referrals.

Related Diagnoses

ICD-10 Code	Description	Clinical Relevance
`S83.091A`	Dislocation of patella, right knee, initial encounter	Acute patellar dislocation is the primary indication for closed reduction.
`S83.092A`	Dislocation of patella, left knee, initial encounter	As above, for the left knee.
`S83.093A`	Dislocation of patella, unspecified knee, initial encounter	Use when laterality is not specified at initial encounter.
`S80.01XA`	Contusion of knee, initial encounter	Knee contusion commonly occurs with traumatic dislocation and may be a secondary diagnosis.
`M22.0`	Recurrent dislocation of patella	Relevant for patients with chronic instability who may present with recurrent episodes requiring reduction or surgical referral.

Related CPT Codes

CPT Code	Description	Relationship to This Procedure
`27562`	Closed treatment of patellar dislocation; without anesthesia listed (procedure requires anesthesia per descriptor)	Primary code describing closed reduction of a dislocated patella; used when realignment is achieved without open incision.
`29075`	Application of short arm splint (forearm, volar)	Data not available in the input.
`20610`	Arthrocentesis, aspiration and/or injection; major joint or bursa (e.g., knee)	Often performed before or after reduction to aspirate hemarthrosis or deliver intra-articular medication if indicated.
`73560`	Radiologic examination, knee; 3 views	Pre- and post-reduction radiographs to document alignment and exclude fracture.
`99284`	Emergency department visit, moderate complexity	Typical E/M level for ED patients presenting with acute patellar dislocation requiring reduction and procedural sedation.
`29874`	Arthroscopy, knee, surgical; debridement/shaving of articular cartilage (chondroplasty)	Performed in follow-up OR if open or arthroscopic surgery is required for associated intra-articular injury after initial closed reduction.

OpenPayer