Summary & Overview
CPT 29075: Short Arm Cast Application for Lower Arm Fractures
CPT code 29075 denotes application of a short arm cast that encases the lower arm to treat fractures and correct deformities of the hand and wrist. This immobilization procedure is commonly used across acute care and outpatient settings to stabilize distal radius, distal ulna and hand injuries, and it plays a routine role in early fracture management and nonoperative care. Nationally, accurate coding for cast application affects procedure reporting, revenue capture, and quality measurement for musculoskeletal care.
Key payers examined include Aetna, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Cigna Health, UnitedHealthcare and Medicare. Readers will find a concise review of the clinical context for use of the code, common sites of service, and the relationship of this code to related splint and immobilization codes. The publication also outlines typical diagnosis pairings and common clinical scenarios where the code is billed, and highlights relevant billing considerations such as co-reporting with evaluation visits and alternative splint codes.
Intended for billing professionals, clinical coders, and revenue managers, the summary provides practical context for when 29075 is used, how it compares to related immobilization services, and what to expect in payer coverage patterns and documentation needs. Data not available in the input: detailed payer-specific reimbursement rates and prior authorization requirements.
Billing Code Overview
CPT code 29075 describes the application of a short arm cast encasing the lower arm, used to treat fractures of the bones in the lower arm and to correct deformities of the hand and wrist. This service is typically performed when immobilization of the forearm, wrist and hand is required for fracture management or corrective positioning.
Service type: Cast application / immobilization procedure
Typical site of service: Outpatient clinic, emergency department, urgent care, or ambulatory surgery center, depending on clinical setting and patient needs.
Clinical & Coding Specifications
Clinical Context
A 28-year-old patient presents to an orthopaedic urgent care clinic after a fall onto an outstretched hand. The patient reports immediate pain, swelling, and limited wrist motion. Physical exam demonstrates point tenderness at the distal radius and decreased hand function. Plain radiographs confirm an extra-articular, closed fracture of the distal radius. The treating orthopaedic surgeon or family medicine physician applies a short arm cast encasing the lower arm to immobilize the wrist and hand while the fracture is managed nonoperatively.
Clinical workflow: initial evaluation (history, focused physical exam), radiographs obtained and reviewed, informed consent for cast application, closed reduction if indicated, application of a short arm cast using standard materials (stockinette, padding, plaster or fiberglass), neurovascular check post-application, cast care and follow-up instructions documented, and schedule for outpatient fracture follow-up and repeat radiographs as clinically indicated.
Coding Specifications
| Modifier | Description | When to Use |
|---|---|---|
25 | Significant, separately identifiable E/M service on same day | Use when a separately identifiable evaluation and management visit is performed on the same day as cast application. |
52 |