Summary & Overview
CPT 27762: Medial Malleolus Fracture Manipulation
CPT code 27762 denotes closed manipulation of a fracture of the medial malleolus, commonly applied to nondisplaced or hairline fractures to maintain alignment, reduce pain, and support healing. Nationally, use of this code reflects management of ankle fractures in emergency, ambulatory, and inpatient orthopedic settings and has implications for procedure-level utilization, clinical pathways, and payer coverage policies.
Key payers in the analysis include Aetna, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Cigna Health, UnitedHealthcare, and Medicare. Readers will find a concise clinical context for the procedure, an overview of typical sites of service and service type, and a review of common billing considerations and related benchmarks where available. The publication outlines how CPT code 27762 is used in clinical practice, typical care settings, and payer coverage patterns relevant to national policy and reimbursement discussions.
Data not available in the input for specific ICD-10 pairings, associated taxonomies, or payer-specific reimbursement rates.
Billing Code Overview
CPT code 27762 describes manipulation of a fracture of the medial malleolus. The procedure involves manual realignment of a typically nondisplaced or hairline fracture of the medial malleolus, with or without the use of skin traction, to maintain alignment during healing and to relieve pain.
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Service type: Fracture management, closed manipulation
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Typical site of service: Hospital inpatient or outpatient orthopedic service, emergency department, or ambulatory surgery/orthopedic clinic
Clinical & Coding Specifications
Clinical Context
A 42-year-old male presents to the emergency department after slipping on wet pavement and injuring his right ankle. He reports immediate localized medial ankle pain and swelling and is unable to bear weight. Examination reveals point tenderness over the medial malleolus with mild bruising and no open wound. Plain radiographs demonstrate a nondisplaced fracture of the medial malleolus. The orthopedic surgeon performs a closed manipulation of the fracture fragments under local or regional anesthesia and applies skin traction or wraps and a protective splint or cast to maintain reduction and relieve pain while the fracture heals. Post-procedure radiographs confirm alignment, and the patient is discharged with activity restrictions, analgesics, and follow-up orthopedic clinic appointment for continued immobilization and healing assessment.
Coding Specifications
| Modifier | Description | When to Use |
|---|---|---|
00 | Unspecified/Not applicable (internal payer use) | Rarely used; follow payer-specific guidance if required by contract |
11 | Professional component | Use when reporting physician's professional service separate from technical services if payer requires distinct reporting |