Summary & Overview
CPT 29807: Arthroscopic Repair of SLAP Lesion, Shoulder
CPT code 29807 denotes arthroscopic repair of a superior labrum anterior-posterior (SLAP) lesion in the shoulder. This operative arthroscopy code is commonly used in sports medicine and trauma-related shoulder care to document minimally invasive visualization and repair of labral tears. Nationally, the code is significant because shoulder arthroscopy represents a high-volume orthopedic procedure with implications for surgical resource use, facility utilization, and postoperative rehabilitation.
Key payers covered in this analysis include Aetna, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Cigna Health, UnitedHealthcare, and Medicare. Readers will find clinical context on the procedure and typical sites of service, as well as operational benchmarks and policy considerations relevant to fee schedules, prior authorization practices, and site-of-service shifts between ambulatory surgery centers and hospital outpatient departments. The publication highlights coding considerations specific to arthroscopic labral repair, expected utilization drivers such as sports injuries and shoulder trauma, and areas where payer policy updates frequently affect authorization and coverage.
The content is intended for billing managers, orthopedists, and policy analysts seeking a concise briefing on CPT code 29807, including service definition, common clinical scenarios, and the policy landscape that influences how this procedure is covered and delivered across care settings.
Billing Code Overview
CPT code 29807 describes an arthroscopic surgical procedure to inspect and repair a tear of the superior labrum from anterior to posterior (SLAP lesion) in the shoulder. The provider uses an arthroscope to visualize the interior of the shoulder joint and inserts instruments through the arthroscope to perform the repair.
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Service type: Arthroscopic shoulder labral repair (operative arthroscopy)
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Typical site of service: Hospital outpatient department or ambulatory surgery center
Clinical & Coding Specifications
Clinical Context
A 28-year-old semi-professional baseball player presents with persistent anterior shoulder pain, mechanical catching, and reduced overhead performance after a fall onto an outstretched hand during play six weeks earlier. Physical exam demonstrates positive OâBrien and crank tests with localized deep glenohumeral pain. MRI arthrogram suggests a superior labrum anterior-posterior (SLAP) tear. Conservative care including rest, physical therapy, and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory therapy has failed.
The orthopedic surgeon schedules arthroscopic shoulder surgery for diagnostic evaluation and repair. In the operating room under general anesthesia with the patient in the beach-chair position, the surgeon introduces an arthroscope into the glenohumeral joint, inspects the labrum and biceps anchor, confirms a SLAP lesion, and uses arthroscopic suture anchors and graspers to perform labral repair. Standard intraoperative workflow includes joint inspection, saline distention, portal placement, debridement of frayed tissue, anchor fixation, arthroscopic verification of repair stability, and wound closure. Postoperative documentation includes operative note with CPT 29807 for arthroscopic shoulder labral repair, estimated blood loss, implants used, anesthesia type, laterality, and planned postoperative rehabilitation and restrictions.
Coding Specifications
| Modifier | Description | When to Use |
|---|---|---|
26 | Professional component |