Summary & Overview
CPT 29820: Arthroscopic Synovectomy, Shoulder
CPT code 29820 denotes an arthroscopic synovectomy of the shoulder — an operative procedure in which a surgeon uses an arthroscope and instruments to inspect the joint and excise inflamed synovial tissue. This minimally invasive procedure addresses synovitis that causes pain and restricted motion and is commonly performed in hospital outpatient departments and ambulatory surgery centers. Nationally, accurate coding of 29820 matters for clinical documentation, appropriate facility and professional payment separation, and tracking use of arthroscopic shoulder interventions.
Key payers covered in this analysis include Aetna, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Cigna Health, UnitedHealthcare, and Medicare. Readers will find a concise clinical context for the procedure, typical sites of service, and which payers are commonly involved. The content highlights benchmarking and policy-relevant topics such as correct CPT designation, the operative nature of the service, and payer scope — enabling revenue cycle and compliance teams to align coding and billing workflows. Where specific payer policy details, modifier guidance, or diagnosis mappings are needed, readers should consult payer manuals and clinical documentation, as those specifics vary by contract and clinical scenario.
Data not available in the input: associated taxonomies, ICD-10 diagnoses, related codes, and service line detail beyond the procedure description.
Billing Code Overview
CPT code 29820 describes an arthroscopic synovectomy of the shoulder, a procedure in which the provider inspects the interior of the shoulder joint with an arthroscope, inserts instruments, and excises inflamed synovial tissue that is causing pain and limited motion. The service involves visualization and operative removal of a portion of the synovial membrane between the bony surfaces and the joint capsule.
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Service type: Arthroscopic surgical procedure of the shoulder (operative synovectomy)
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Typical site of service: Hospital outpatient department or ambulatory surgery center (facility performing arthroscopic shoulder surgery)
Clinical & Coding Specifications
Clinical Context
A 52-year-old right-handed office worker presents with progressive right shoulder pain, swelling, and reduced range of motion over several months. Conservative care including rest, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, and physical therapy produced incomplete relief. Clinical exam demonstrates diffuse joint tenderness and limited active and passive abduction. MRI of the shoulder shows synovial thickening and inflammatory synovitis within the glenohumeral joint without full-thickness rotator cuff tear. The orthopedic surgeon recommends arthroscopic synovectomy.
The procedure performed is diagnostic and therapeutic arthroscopy of the shoulder with synovectomy: the provider inserts an arthroscope into the glenohumeral joint, inspects intra-articular structures, and uses arthroscopic instruments to excise inflamed synovial tissue. Typical workflow includes preoperative evaluation, anesthesia (usually general or regional), sterile arthroscopic portal placement, diagnostic survey of the joint, targeted synovial excision, hemostasis, portal closure, and postoperative recovery with discharge same day or brief observation. Typical site of service is an ambulatory surgery center or hospital outpatient department.
Coding Specifications
| Modifier | Description | When to Use |
|---|---|---|
26 | Professional component | Use when reporting only the physician component of a service that has separate professional and technical components (rare for arthroscopy). |