Summary & Overview
CPT 27840: Closed Reduction of Dislocated Ankle
CPT code 27840 denotes a closed reduction for a dislocated ankle performed without incision or anesthetic agent. This code captures a common urgent orthopaedic procedure used to restore joint alignment after acute traumatic dislocations—frequent in athletics and high-impact injuries. Nationally, accurate coding for closed ankle reduction is important for claims accuracy, appropriate setting designation, and tracking urgent musculoskeletal care utilization.
Key payers addressed include Aetna, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Cigna Health, UnitedHealthcare, and Medicare. Readers will find a concise overview of the clinical and procedural context for 27840, common sites of service where the procedure is performed, and standard reporting considerations. The publication also summarizes typical benchmarking topics and policy-relevant issues tied to this service, such as site-of-service implications, documentation elements that support the closed nature of the procedure, and common modifier usage (list provided separately).
This analysis is written for a national audience and is intended to support coding, billing staff, and policy analysts in understanding the clinical scenario represented by CPT code 27840, how it is classified, and which payers commonly reimburse these services. Data not available in the input for specific fee benchmarks, associated ICD-10 diagnoses, and payer-specific coverage guidance is noted where applicable.
Billing Code Overview
CPT code 27840 describes a closed treatment of a dislocated ankle without incision and without use of an anesthetic agent. The procedure involves manual manipulation to realign the ankle joint after an acute dislocation, a common injury mechanism in sports and falls.
Service type: Closed reduction of ankle dislocation
Typical site of service: Emergency department or outpatient urgent care, with possible performance in same-day procedural areas when immediate closed reduction is indicated.
Clinical & Coding Specifications
Clinical Context
A 24-year-old recreational soccer player presents to the emergency department after a twisting injury to the ankle sustained during a game. The patient reports immediate severe pain, visible deformity of the ankle, inability to bear weight, and rapid onset swelling. Emergency department clinicians obtain focused history, perform neurovascular and skin integrity assessment, and request ankle radiographs to evaluate for fracture versus isolated dislocation. Radiographs confirm an ankle dislocation without associated open wound or displaced fracture. The provider performs a closed reduction in the emergency department using manual manipulation with analgesia limited to noninvasive measures (e.g., local infiltration not used, no general or regional anesthesia administered). Post-reduction films confirm joint congruity, and the limb is immobilized in a splint. The patient receives neurovascular checks, discharge instructions, and a referral to orthopedics for outpatient follow-up.
Coding Specifications
| Modifier | Description | When to Use |
|---|---|---|
23 | Unusual Anesthesia | Use if unusual anesthesia circumstances required (rare for this code since no anesthetic used). |
25 | Significant, Separately Identifiable Evaluation and Management Service |