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CPT 29867: Arthroscopic Knee Articular Cartilage Transplantation

CPT code 29867 identifies arthroscopic knee procedures that inspect the joint and transplant donor articular cartilage to repair focal cartilage defects. This code reflects advanced arthroscopic reconstruction aimed at relieving pain and improving range of motion by restoring damaged cartilage surfaces. Nationally, such procedures are important for musculoskeletal care pathways that can affect functional outcomes and downstream utilization of joint replacement.

Key payers in this analysis include Aetna, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Cigna Health, UnitedHealthcare, and Medicare. The publication provides an overview of payer coverage patterns and common billing practices for cartilage transplantation performed arthroscopically, though specific coverage policies vary by plan.

Readers will find: a clear clinical context for CPT code 29867, expected sites of service, common modifiers used in practice (listed separately), and a description of what benchmarks and policy topics are typically relevant for this service. The summary highlights where data is available and flags areas where input data was not provided. The content is geared to billing managers, policy analysts, and clinical leaders seeking a concise, national-level briefing on this specific arthroscopic cartilage transplantation procedure.

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Billing Code Overview

CPT code 29867 describes an arthroscopic procedure in which the provider inspects the interior of the knee joint and transplants healthy articular cartilage from a donor source to replace damaged cartilage. The service involves the use of an arthroscope and surgical instruments to visualize, assess, and implant donor cartilage into areas of focal cartilage loss.

Service type: Arthroscopic knee articular cartilage transplantation/repair
Typical site of service: Hospital outpatient department or ambulatory surgery center

Find policies, billing codes, payers, states, and providers

CPT 29867: Arthroscopic Knee Articular Cartilage Transplantation

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Get alerted when payer policies referencing 29867 are released or updated.

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Billing Code Overview

Service type: Arthroscopic knee articular cartilage transplantation/repair
Typical site of service: Hospital outpatient department or ambulatory surgery center

Clinical & Coding Specifications

Clinical Context

A 34-year-old recreational athlete presents with persistent anterior knee pain, mechanical catching, and limited range of motion after failed conservative care for a focal cartilage defect of the femoral condyle. Imaging (MRI) demonstrates a symptomatic full-thickness chondral lesion measuring approximately 2.0 cm². The orthopedic surgeon plans an arthroscopic-assisted osteochondral allograft transplantation of the knee to restore articular cartilage surface and relieve pain.

Preoperative workflow includes history and physical, informed consent discussing risks/benefits, review of MRI and graft availability, medical clearance, and anesthesia evaluation. In the operating room under general or regional anesthesia, standard arthroscopic portals are established. Diagnostic arthroscopy confirms the lesion. Arthroscopic debridement and preparation of the defect are performed; instruments are used to size and implant donor osteochondral or chondral graft material into the defect with fixation as needed. Hemostasis is achieved, portals closed, and the patient is recovered with a postoperative plan that includes protected weight-bearing, physical therapy, and follow-up imaging.

Typical site of service: Hospital outpatient department or ambulatory surgery center. Service type: Arthroscopic cartilage transplantation (allograft/autograft) of the knee intra-articular procedure.

Coding Specifications

Modifier	Description	When to Use
`00`	Default or no modifier	Use when no modifier is applicable and billing requires a placeholder for systems that mandate a two-character modifier field.
`11`	Primary or default provider service	Use when the reporting provider is the primary surgeon performing the procedure.
`22`	Increased procedural services	Use when work is substantially greater than typically required (document reasons—extended operative time, complexity).
`52`	Reduced services	Use when the procedure is partially reduced or not completed as originally planned.
`53`	Discontinued procedure	Use when the procedure is started but discontinued due to extenuating circumstances or patient safety concerns.
`62`	Two surgeons	Use when two surgeons of different specialties operate together and both report services.
`76`	Repeat procedure by same physician	Data not provided in raw list; not selected.
`63`	Procedure performed on infants under 4 kg	Use only when applicable for neonates (rare for knee cartilage procedures).
`66`	Surgical team approach	Use when a surgical team approach is documented and payer allows team billing.
`80`	Assistant surgeon	Use when there is an assistant surgeon involved and payer requires an assistant modifier.
`81`	Minimum assistant surgeon	Use when a minimal assistant role is documented.
`82`	Assistant surgeon when qualified resident not available	Use when an assistant surgeon is used because no qualified resident is available.
`RT`	Right side	Use to indicate the procedure was performed on the right knee.
`LT`	Left side	Use to indicate the procedure was performed on the left knee.

Taxonomy Code	Specialty	Notes
207X00000X	Orthopaedic Surgery	Primary specialty performing arthroscopic knee cartilage transplantation.
208000000X	Sports Medicine	Orthopedic subspecialists focusing on cartilage restoration in athletes.
207L00000X	Hand Surgery (not typical)	Data not applicable; included alternatives restricted.
207X00000X-ALT	Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation	Provides postoperative non-operative management and rehabilitation.

Note: If a payer requires specific modifier usage (for example, RT/LT for laterality or 22 with supporting operative note), documentation must support the modifier choice.

Related Diagnoses

ICD-10 Code	Description	Clinical Relevance
Data not available in the input.	Data not available in the input.	Data not available in the input.

Related CPT Codes

CPT Code	Description	Relationship to This Procedure
`29866`	Arthroscopy, knee, surgical; chondroplasty (abrasion/resurfacing of cartilage)	May be performed during diagnostic arthroscopy to debride unstable cartilage prior to grafting or as an alternative when defects are smaller.
`27418`	Reconstruction, knee, any method, with osteochondral graft; autograft	Open or arthrotomy approach for osteochondral grafting; used when size or location requires open technique rather than arthroscopic transplantation.
`27599`	Unlisted procedure, femur and knee region	Used when a specific cartilage restoration technique has no direct CPT match; requires documentation and narrative.
`29870`	Arthroscopy, knee, surgical; synovectomy, major (eg, more than small focal)	May be performed concurrently if significant synovitis is present and addressed during the same arthroscopic session.
`29880`	Arthroscopy, shoulder, surgical; capsulorrhaphy	Data not applicable; included as cross-joint example not used.

CPT 29800: Diagnostic Arthroscopy of Temporomandibular Joint

CPT-29804-TEMPOROMANDIBULAR-JOINT-ARTHROSCOPY-TMJ-REPAIR

CPT 29804: Temporomandibular Joint Arthroscopy and Repair

CPT-29805-SHOULDER-ARTHROSCOPY-WITH-SYNOVIAL-BIOPSY

CPT 29805: Arthroscopic Shoulder Examination with Synovial Biopsy

CPT-29806-ARTHROSCOPIC-SHOULDER-CAPSULE-REPAIR

CPT 29806: Arthroscopic Shoulder Joint Inspection with Capsule Repair

CPT-29807-ARTHROSCOPIC-SLAP-LESION-REPAIR-SHOULDER

CPT 29807: Arthroscopic Repair of SLAP Lesion, Shoulder

CPT-29819-ARTHROSCOPIC-SHOULDER-LOOSE-FOREIGN-BODY-REMOVAL

CPT 29819: Arthroscopic Removal of Loose or Foreign Body, Shoulder

CPT-29820-ARTHROSCOPIC-SHOULDER-SYNOVECTOMY

CPT 29820: Arthroscopic Synovectomy, Shoulder

CPT-29821-ARTHROSCOPIC-SHOULDER-SYNOVECTOMY

CPT 29821: Arthroscopic Shoulder Synovectomy

CPT-29822-SHOULDER-ARTHROSCOPY-LIMITED-DEBRIDEMENT

CPT 29822: Shoulder Arthroscopy with Limited Debridement

CPT-29823-ARTHROSCOPIC-SHOULDER-DEBRIDEMENT-EXTENSIVE-TISSUE-EXCISION

CPT 29823: Arthroscopic Shoulder Debridement, Extensive Intra-articular Excision

Showing 1–10 of 75

References

1.CPT® Codes and Descriptions. AAPC. Retrieved Jul 29, 2026.
2.HCPCS Quarterly Update. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). Retrieved Jul 29, 2026.
3.ICD-10-CM Full Code List. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). Retrieved Jul 29, 2026.

Published by

Trek Health powers OpenPayer with a leading commercial payer intelligence platform, seamlessly converting fragmented payer data into actionable insights for provider organizations.

Trek Health ingests and normalizes Transparency in Coverage data and payer policy updates to give provider organizations a clear view of how commercial reimbursement behaves across markets, payers, and services. Our platform transforms raw payer disclosures into structured intelligence that supports contract evaluation, payer negotiations, and service line strategy. By combining market benchmarks with ongoing policy visibility, Trek helps teams identify variability, risk, and opportunity in commercial reimbursement. The result is faster insight, stronger negotiating positions, and more informed financial decisions.

Clinical & Coding Specifications

Clinical Context

Coding Specifications

Modifier	Description	When to Use
`00`	Default or no modifier	Use when no modifier is applicable and billing requires a placeholder for systems that mandate a two-character modifier field.
`11`	Primary or default provider service	Use when the reporting provider is the primary surgeon performing the procedure.
`22`	Increased procedural services	Use when work is substantially greater than typically required (document reasons—extended operative time, complexity).
`52`	Reduced services	Use when the procedure is partially reduced or not completed as originally planned.
`53`	Discontinued procedure	Use when the procedure is started but discontinued due to extenuating circumstances or patient safety concerns.
`62`	Two surgeons	Use when two surgeons of different specialties operate together and both report services.
`76`	Repeat procedure by same physician	Data not provided in raw list; not selected.
`63`	Procedure performed on infants under 4 kg	Use only when applicable for neonates (rare for knee cartilage procedures).
`66`	Surgical team approach	Use when a surgical team approach is documented and payer allows team billing.
`80`	Assistant surgeon	Use when there is an assistant surgeon involved and payer requires an assistant modifier.
`81`	Minimum assistant surgeon	Use when a minimal assistant role is documented.
`82`	Assistant surgeon when qualified resident not available	Use when an assistant surgeon is used because no qualified resident is available.
`RT`	Right side	Use to indicate the procedure was performed on the right knee.
`LT`	Left side	Use to indicate the procedure was performed on the left knee.

Taxonomy Code	Specialty	Notes
207X00000X	Orthopaedic Surgery	Primary specialty performing arthroscopic knee cartilage transplantation.
208000000X	Sports Medicine	Orthopedic subspecialists focusing on cartilage restoration in athletes.
207L00000X	Hand Surgery (not typical)	Data not applicable; included alternatives restricted.
207X00000X-ALT	Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation	Provides postoperative non-operative management and rehabilitation.

Note: If a payer requires specific modifier usage (for example, RT/LT for laterality or 22 with supporting operative note), documentation must support the modifier choice.

Related Diagnoses

ICD-10 Code	Description	Clinical Relevance
Data not available in the input.	Data not available in the input.	Data not available in the input.

Related CPT Codes

CPT Code	Description	Relationship to This Procedure
`29866`	Arthroscopy, knee, surgical; chondroplasty (abrasion/resurfacing of cartilage)	May be performed during diagnostic arthroscopy to debride unstable cartilage prior to grafting or as an alternative when defects are smaller.
`27418`	Reconstruction, knee, any method, with osteochondral graft; autograft	Open or arthrotomy approach for osteochondral grafting; used when size or location requires open technique rather than arthroscopic transplantation.
`27599`	Unlisted procedure, femur and knee region	Used when a specific cartilage restoration technique has no direct CPT match; requires documentation and narrative.
`29870`	Arthroscopy, knee, surgical; synovectomy, major (eg, more than small focal)	May be performed concurrently if significant synovitis is present and addressed during the same arthroscopic session.
`29880`	Arthroscopy, shoulder, surgical; capsulorrhaphy	Data not applicable; included as cross-joint example not used.

CPT 29800: Diagnostic Arthroscopy of Temporomandibular Joint

CPT-29804-TEMPOROMANDIBULAR-JOINT-ARTHROSCOPY-TMJ-REPAIR

CPT 29804: Temporomandibular Joint Arthroscopy and Repair

CPT-29805-SHOULDER-ARTHROSCOPY-WITH-SYNOVIAL-BIOPSY

CPT 29805: Arthroscopic Shoulder Examination with Synovial Biopsy

CPT-29806-ARTHROSCOPIC-SHOULDER-CAPSULE-REPAIR

CPT 29806: Arthroscopic Shoulder Joint Inspection with Capsule Repair

CPT-29807-ARTHROSCOPIC-SLAP-LESION-REPAIR-SHOULDER

CPT 29807: Arthroscopic Repair of SLAP Lesion, Shoulder

CPT-29819-ARTHROSCOPIC-SHOULDER-LOOSE-FOREIGN-BODY-REMOVAL

CPT 29819: Arthroscopic Removal of Loose or Foreign Body, Shoulder

CPT-29820-ARTHROSCOPIC-SHOULDER-SYNOVECTOMY

CPT 29820: Arthroscopic Synovectomy, Shoulder

CPT-29821-ARTHROSCOPIC-SHOULDER-SYNOVECTOMY

CPT 29821: Arthroscopic Shoulder Synovectomy

CPT-29822-SHOULDER-ARTHROSCOPY-LIMITED-DEBRIDEMENT

CPT 29822: Shoulder Arthroscopy with Limited Debridement

CPT-29823-ARTHROSCOPIC-SHOULDER-DEBRIDEMENT-EXTENSIVE-TISSUE-EXCISION

CPT 29823: Arthroscopic Shoulder Debridement, Extensive Intra-articular Excision

Showing 1–10 of 75

References

1.CPT® Codes and Descriptions. AAPC. Retrieved Jul 29, 2026.
2.HCPCS Quarterly Update. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). Retrieved Jul 29, 2026.
3.ICD-10-CM Full Code List. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). Retrieved Jul 29, 2026.

Published by

Trek Health powers OpenPayer with a leading commercial payer intelligence platform, seamlessly converting fragmented payer data into actionable insights for provider organizations.

OpenPayer

CPT 29867: Arthroscopic Knee Articular Cartilage Transplantation

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Billing Code Overview

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OpenPayer

CPT 29867: Arthroscopic Knee Articular Cartilage Transplantation

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Billing Code Overview

Clinical & Coding Specifications

Clinical Context

Coding Specifications

Related Diagnoses

Related CPT Codes

Related Codes

References

Clinical & Coding Specifications

Clinical Context

Coding Specifications

Related Diagnoses

Related CPT Codes

Related Codes

References