CPT 62010 Elevation of Depressed Skull Fracture Reimbursement | OpenPayer

Summary & Overview

CPT 62010: Elevation of Depressed Skull Fracture with Dura Repair

CPT code 62010 denotes a neurosurgical procedure to elevate a depressed skull fracture, repair the dura, and debride brain tissue as needed. This intervention is clinically significant nationwide because it addresses acute traumatic cranial deformity and intracranial pressure that can threaten neurological function and cosmetic outcome. The procedure is relevant across trauma systems, neurosurgical practices, and hospital surgical services.

Key payers in this coverage analysis include Aetna, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Cigna Health, UnitedHealthcare, and Medicare. Readers will find an overview of the clinical context for using 62010, typical sites of service, and the common modifiers associated with surgical billing for this type of neurosurgical procedure. The publication highlights national benchmarking information where available, summarizes recent policy or coding guidance that affects billing and coverage for skull fracture elevation and dura repair, and provides clarity about coding scope and clinical indications.

Intended readers will gain an understanding of when CPT code 62010 is used, payer coverage landscapes, common billing considerations, and the clinical rationale behind the procedure. Data not provided in the input (such as associated taxonomies, specific ICD-10 diagnoses, related codes, and payer-specific rate tables) are noted as not available in the input.

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Billing Code Overview

CPT code 62010 describes a surgical procedure to elevate a depressed skull fracture. The provider incises the scalp, elevates a segment of skull bone that has been displaced inward, repairs the dura (the outer membrane covering the brain), and performs debridement of brain tissue when necessary. The procedure addresses intracranial pressure concerns and restores the normal contour of the skull.

Service type: Neurosurgical procedure for traumatic skull fracture repair
Typical site of service: Operating room (inpatient or outpatient surgical setting depending on clinical severity)

Clinical & Coding Specifications

Clinical Context

A 34-year-old male pedestrian struck by a motor vehicle presents to the emergency department with a depressed skull fracture over the right temporal-parietal region, scalp laceration, and neurologic changes including headache, nausea, and a brief loss of consciousness. CT imaging demonstrates a depressed fragment impinging on the underlying cortex with associated small subdural contusion but no large hematoma. The neurosurgical team evaluates the patient, obtains informed consent, and schedules urgent operative intervention.

In the operating room under general anesthesia, the surgeon performs a scalp incision and exposes the fracture margins. The depressed bone fragments are elevated and either plated or replaced to restore skull contour. Dural tears identified intraoperatively are repaired primarily or with graft material, and devitalized bone and contaminated tissue are debrided. Hemostasis is achieved, and the wound is closed in layers. Postoperatively the patient is monitored in a neurocritical care unit for neurologic status, prophylactic antibiotics, seizure prophylaxis as indicated, and follow-up imaging. Documentation includes operative note describing incision, elevation of depressed skull fracture, dural repair, and any brain debridement consistent with the elements of 62010. Typical sites of service include the hospital inpatient operating room or emergency operating room when performed urgently.

Coding Specifications

Modifier	Description	When to Use
`00`

CPT 62140: Cranial Bone Removal and Skull Defect Repair, Up to 5 cm

CPT-62145-CRANIAL-RECONSTRUCTION-WITH-BRAIN-REPAIR

CPT 62145: Cranial Reconstruction with Brain Tissue Repair

CPT-62005-ELEVATION-DEPRESSED-SKULL-FRACTURE

CPT 62005: Elevation of Depressed Skull Fracture

CPT-62142-CRANIAL-IMPLANT-BONE-FLAP-REMOVAL

CPT 62142: Removal of Bone Flap or Prosthetic Skull Plate

CPT-62141-CRANIAL-BONE-REMOVAL-AND-SKULL-DEFECT-REPAIR-GREATER-THAN-5CM

CPT 62141: Cranial Bone Removal and Skull Defect Repair >5 cm

CPT-62121-SKULL-BASE-ENCEPHALOCELE-REPAIR-CRANIOTOMY

CPT 62121: Repair of Skull Base Encephalocele, Craniotomy

CPT-62100-CRANIAL-DURAL-REPAIR-CSF-LEAK

CPT 62100: Cranial Dural Repair for Cerebrospinal Fluid Leak

CPT-62115-CRANIAL-SKULL-REDUCTION-CRANIOMEGALY

CPT 62115: Reduction of Enlarged Skull (Craniomegaly)

CPT-62148-CRANIOPLASTY-RETRIEVAL-AUTOLOGOUS-CRANIAL-BONE-GRAFT

CPT 62148: Cranioplasty Using Previously Stored Autologous Cranial Bone Graft

CPT-62120-CRANIAL-VAULT-REPAIR-SKULL-DEFECT-RECONSTRUCTION

CPT 62120: Cranial Vault Repair and Skull Defect Reconstruction

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Taxonomy Code	Specialty	Notes
`207RH0000X`	Neurological Surgery	Primary specialty performing elevation of depressed skull fractures and dural repair.
`2086S0122X`	Trauma Surgery	Frequently involved for acute trauma care coordination and operative management in complex polytrauma.
`208800000X`	General Surgery	May be involved in trauma systems where general trauma surgeons perform neurosurgical procedures in resource-limited settings.
`207K00000X`	Otolaryngology (ENT)	Occasionally involved for skull base or temporal bone-related approaches and reconstruction.

Related Diagnoses

ICD-10 Code	Description	Clinical Relevance
`S02.31XA`	Displaced fracture of vault of skull, initial encounter for closed fracture	Common indication for `62010` when a depressed, displaced skull fragment requires elevation.
`S02.311A`	Displaced fracture of vault of skull with intracranial injury, initial encounter	Indicates coexisting intracranial injury prompting operative intervention including dural repair or debridement.
`S02.39XA`	Fracture of other part of skull, initial encounter	Used for skull fractures in locations not specifically coded elsewhere that may need surgical elevation.
`S06.4X0A`	Epidural hemorrhage without loss of consciousness, initial encounter	May coexist with depressed skull fracture and require concomitant exploration or evacuation.
`S06.5X0A`	Traumatic subdural hemorrhage without loss of consciousness, initial encounter	Associated intracranial bleeding may alter operative planning and be addressed during craniotomy/craniectomy in addition to elevation.

Related CPT Codes

CPT Code	Description	Relationship to This Procedure
`60100`	Excision of preauricular or other benign lesion of skull — Note: This code is not typically used for depressed skull fracture management; it is included here only if minor skull lesion excision is performed separately.	Not routinely related; seldom applicable in acute depressed skull fracture repair.
`61312`	Craniectomy or craniotomy for exploration or evacuation of hematoma; may include elevation of skull fragments	May be performed alongside `62010` when additional intracranial exploration or hematoma evacuation is required beyond elevation and dural repair.
`61618`	Resection of cranial bone lesion or skull reconstruction (cranial bone grafting/reconstruction)	Used when reconstruction beyond simple elevation is required, such as cranioplasty with graft or custom implant following depressed fracture.
`99100`	Anesthesia for procedures on the head and neck — Example anesthesia coding	Represents anesthesia services provided concurrently; billed by anesthesia provider, often associated with cranial procedures.
`10060`	Incision and drainage of abscess — scalp	May be performed prior to or in conjunction if there is a scalp abscess or infected wound overlying the fracture requiring drainage.

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