Summary & Overview
CPT 31552: Laryngoplasty with Cartilage Graft via Tracheotomy
CPT code 31552 defines a complex open laryngeal reconstruction (laryngoplasty) performed in patients aged 12 years and older that uses a tracheotomy approach and placement of a cartilage graft to correct laryngeal stenosis. This code is used for advanced airway reconstruction procedures performed in specialized surgical settings and carries implications for surgical resource use, postoperative airway management, and bundled payment arrangements. Nationally, accurate use of CPT code 31552 matters for operative case classification, hospital resource planning, and claims adjudication for airway reconstruction.
Key payers covered in this analysis include Aetna, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Cigna Health, UnitedHealthcare, and Medicare. Readers will find a concise overview of the clinical context for CPT code 31552, the typical service type and site of service, common billing modifiers associated with complex surgical services, and guidance on where to find related coding references. The publication also summarizes benchmark considerations and policy-relevant issues affecting payment and coverage for complex laryngoplasty procedures, including the interplay between inpatient surgical coding and postoperative airway care. Data not available in the input are noted where applicable.
Billing Code Overview
CPT code 31552 describes a laryngoplasty with cartilage graft performed in patients 12 years or older using a tracheotomy to access the larynx. The operation includes dilation and release of webs as needed and placement of a cartilage graft on the larynx to stabilize the larynx and trachea and to correct laryngeal stenosis (narrowing).
Service type: Open surgical laryngeal reconstruction (laryngoplasty) with cartilage graft via tracheotomy access
Typical site of service: Inpatient or operating room setting, often requiring specialized otolaryngology or head and neck surgical facilities and postoperative airway management.
Clinical & Coding Specifications
Clinical Context
A 45-year-old patient with symptomatic laryngeal stenosis following prior prolonged intubation presents with progressive dyspnea, stridor, and voice changes. After airway evaluation with flexible laryngoscopy and computed tomography showing anterior glottic and subglottic narrowing with scar and web formation, the multidisciplinary team elects airway reconstruction. The patient is brought to the operating room, placed under general anesthesia, and a tracheotomy is performed to secure a distal airway and provide direct access to the larynx. The surgeon dilates and releases laryngeal webs and scar bands, assesses the cartilage framework of the larynx and trachea, and harvests an autologous cartilage graft (commonly from the auricle or costal cartilage). The cartilage graft is sculpted and placed on the laryngeal framework to expand and stabilize the airway, correct stenosis, and reduce risk of restenosis. Hemostasis is obtained, the tracheotomy tube is managed per protocol, and the patient is transferred to a monitored postoperative unit with plans for serial airway surveillance and wound care.
Coding Specifications
| Modifier | Description | When to Use |
|---|---|---|
11 | Normal, documented pre- and post-operative care included | Use when the service represents the physician's usual pre/post care without unusual circumstances |
22 |