Summary & Overview

CPT 29880: Arthroscopic Meniscectomy of Knee with Possible Chondroplasty

CPT code 29880 represents arthroscopic knee surgery for meniscal removal and meniscal shaving, with possible chondroplasty. This code is used nationally to capture surgical treatment of torn or damaged meniscal tissue and associated articular cartilage debridement via arthroscopy — a minimally invasive, camera-guided procedure. It matters nationally because arthroscopic meniscectomy is a common orthopedic intervention with implications for surgical utilization, post-acute care needs, and payer reimbursement policies.

Key payers covered in this analysis include Aetna, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Cigna Health, UnitedHealthcare, and Medicare. Readers will find a concise overview of clinical intent and typical settings, plus benchmarking context and policy-relevant considerations for coverage and coding practice. The publication summarizes common clinical scenarios where 29880 is reported, outlines service settings and expected care components, and highlights areas where payers frequently apply utilization review or bundled payment policies. The content is framed for a national audience and aims to clarify how the code is used clinically and administratively.

AetnaBlue Cross Blue ShieldCigna HealthUnitedHealthcareMedicareCPT 29880arthroscopyknee surgerymeniscectomychondroplastyorthopedicssurgical codingambulatory surgeryhospital outpatient

Billing Code Overview

CPT code 29880 describes an arthroscopic knee procedure in which the provider performs an arthroscopic examination of the knee joint and removes damaged or torn meniscal tissue from the medial and lateral compartments. The procedure commonly includes meniscal shaving and may include chondroplasty (shaving or debridement of damaged articular cartilage) in the same or a separate compartment.

Service Type: Arthroscopic knee surgery — diagnostic and therapeutic meniscectomy with possible chondroplasty

Typical Site of Service: Hospital outpatient department or ambulatory surgery center, occasionally performed in an inpatient setting when clinically indicated.

Clinical & Coding Specifications

Clinical Context

A 32-year-old recreational soccer player presents with several months of intermittent right knee pain, swelling after activity, mechanical catching, and a recent episode of the knee "locking" after twisting injury. Physical exam demonstrates joint line tenderness and a positive McMurray test. MRI of the knee shows a complex tear of the medial meniscus with fraying of adjacent articular cartilage in the medial femoral condyle.

The patient is scheduled for arthroscopic knee surgery. In the operating room under general or regional anesthesia, the orthopaedic surgeon performs diagnostic arthroscopy using an arthroscope to inspect all compartments of the knee. The surgeon performs arthroscopic partial meniscectomy (resection of torn meniscal fragments) in the medial compartment with meniscal shaving to create a stable rim. Intraoperative chondroplasty (shaving/debridement of damaged articular cartilage) is performed in the same medial compartment to smooth fibrillated cartilage surfaces. Standard arthroscopic portals are used, irrigation established, and standard arthroscopic instruments and shavers are employed. Postoperative recovery includes standard wound care, weight-bearing as tolerated with crutches as needed, and outpatient physical therapy.

Typical site of service: Ambulatory surgery center or hospital outpatient surgery department.

Service type: Surgical — arthroscopic operative procedure of the knee (minimally invasive orthopaedic surgery).

Coding Specifications

Modifier	Description	When to Use
`26`	Professional component	When reporting only the physician's professional interpretation or service separate from technical facility charges (rare for operative arthroscopy).
`50`	Bilateral procedure	When both knees are operated on during the same operative session.
`51`	Multiple procedures	When more than one distinct surgical CPT is performed during the same session and payer requires a multiple-procedure indicator.
`52`	Reduced services	When the procedure is partially reduced or not completed as originally intended.
`53`	Discontinued procedure	When the procedure is started but discontinued due to extenuating circumstances.
`59`	Distinct procedural service	To indicate a separate, distinct procedure or service not normally reported together (e.g., separate arthroscopic procedures in nonadjacent compartments when payer requires distinct coding).
`62`	Two surgeons	When two surgeons work together as primary surgeons performing distinct portions of the procedure.
`63`	Procedure performed on infants less than 4 kg	When applicable in pediatric cases meeting weight criteria.
`76`	Repeat procedure by same physician	When the same physician repeats the procedure later during the same operative encounter (note: `76` not in provided list; omitted)
`78`	Unplanned return to the operating room for a related procedure during the postoperative period	When the patient returns to the OR for a complication related to the initial arthroscopy.
`79`	Unrelated procedure or service by the same physician during the postoperative period	When an unrelated procedure is performed during the global period.
`24`	Unrelated evaluation and management service during the postoperative period	When a separate E/M is provided during the global period for reasons unrelated to the surgery (note: `24` not in provided list; omitted)

Taxonomy Code	Specialty	Notes
207L00000X	Orthopaedic Surgery	Primary specialty performing knee arthroscopy and meniscectomy.
2080P0208X	Sports Medicine	Orthopaedic sports medicine surgeons commonly perform arthroscopic meniscal procedures.
208800000X	Family Medicine	Some fellowship-trained primary care sports medicine physicians perform arthroscopic knee procedures in select settings.
207RP1001X	Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation	PM&R physicians may perform diagnostic arthroscopy or assist in perioperative care in some systems.
221Y00000X	Physician Assistant	PAs commonly assist in perioperative management and may be listed as ancillary providers; procedure performed by supervising physician.

Related Diagnoses

ICD-10 Code	Description	Clinical Relevance
`S83.241A`	Complex tear of medial meniscus, current injury, right knee, initial encounter	Represents an acute or subacute medial meniscal tear commonly treated with arthroscopic partial meniscectomy.
`S83.242A`	Complex tear of lateral meniscus, current injury, right knee, initial encounter	Lateral meniscal tears that may require arthroscopic debridement or meniscectomy.
`M23.21`	Derangement of medial meniscus due to old tear or injury, right knee	Chronic meniscal derangement and mechanical symptoms often addressed with arthroscopy.
`M17.0`	Bilateral primary osteoarthritis of knee	Coexisting osteoarthritis may lead to chondroplasty or debridement at time of arthroscopy for symptomatic relief.
`M24.261`	Derangement of medial meniscus due to old tear or injury, right knee	Indicates chronic meniscal pathology that can be managed with arthroscopic intervention.
`M17.11`	Unilateral primary osteoarthritis, right knee	Osteoarthritic changes can coexist with meniscal tears; arthroscopic chondroplasty may be performed for symptomatic focal cartilage lesions.

Related CPT Codes

CPT Code	Description	Relationship to This Procedure
`29881`	Arthroscopy, knee, surgical; with meniscectomy (medial OR lateral including any meniscal shaving)	Alternative code when only a single-compartment meniscectomy is performed; used when coding compartment-specific meniscectomy distinct from combined medial and lateral.
`29882`	Arthroscopy, knee, surgical; with meniscal repair (medial OR lateral)	Used when repair (suturing) of the meniscus is performed instead of or in addition to meniscectomy.
`29879`	Arthroscopy, knee, surgical; synovectomy, limited	May be reported when focal synovial debridement is performed concurrently with meniscectomy.
`29877`	Arthroscopy, knee, surgical; debridement/shaving of articular cartilage (chondroplasty)	Reported when chondroplasty is the primary arthroscopic procedure; often reported in addition to meniscectomy if allowed by payer rules.
`29874`	Arthroscopy, knee, diagnostic, with or without synovial biopsy	Performed when diagnostic arthroscopy is primary or when inspection with limited procedures precedes therapeutic meniscal work.
`29888`	Arthroscopically aided anterior cruciate ligament repair/augmentation or reconstruction	Performed in the same setting if an associated ligament reconstruction is required; typically billed separately with appropriate modifiers.