Summary & Overview
CPT 63710: Dural Graft for Closure of Dural Opening
CPT code 63710 designates placement of a dural graft to close an opening in the dura during a separately reportable surgical procedure. This code captures an adjunctive surgical repair step that can affect operative coding, documentation, and payment for neurosurgical and spine procedures. Nationally, accurate use of this code matters for ensuring complete representation of the surgical act and for aligning clinical documentation with claims adjudication.
Key payers in the analysis include Aetna, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Cigna Health, UnitedHealthcare, and Medicare. Readers will find an explanation of the clinical context for dural grafting, guidance on typical sites of service, and an overview of coding considerations relevant to hospital and ambulatory surgical settings. The publication also covers common modifier usage and payer-specific policy themes where available, plus benchmarking and reimbursement context when data are present.
The content is intended to help billing professionals, coding auditors, and clinical staff recognize when CPT code 63710 applies, how it integrates with separately reportable procedures, and what policy and documentation points are most likely to affect claim review and payment.
Billing Code Overview
CPT code 63710 describes the use of a dural graft placed by the provider during a separately reportable procedure to close an opening in the dura, the tough outer membrane surrounding the central nervous system. This service involves placement of biological or synthetic material to achieve watertight closure of the dura after cranial or spinal procedures.
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Service type: Surgical implant/repair of the dura during a separately reportable operative procedure
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Typical site of service: Hospital operating room or ambulatory surgical center (inpatient or outpatient surgical setting)
Clinical & Coding Specifications
Clinical Context
A typical patient is an adult undergoing a neurosurgical procedure (for example, excision of an intradural tumor or repair of a spinal dural tear) during which the dura mater is opened or otherwise compromised. At the conclusion of the primary, separately reportable procedure, the surgeon determines that a dural defect requires closure using a dural graft (autograft, allograft, or synthetic graft). The patient is prepped and draped in an operating room or ambulatory surgery center under general anesthesia. The neurosurgeon selects and fashions the graft to achieve a watertight dural closure to prevent cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) leak and to restore normal meningeal integrity. Intraoperative workflow includes dural repair techniques (sutures, sealants, and graft placement), assessment for CSF leak, and potential adjunct procedures such as lumbar drain placement if indicated. Postoperative workflow includes routine neurosurgical recovery monitoring for neurologic status, wound integrity, and signs of CSF leak or infection, with discharge planning based on the underlying operation and patient status.
Coding Specifications
| Modifier | Description | When to Use |
|---|---|---|
22 | Increased procedural services | Use when work, time, or complexity substantially exceeds the usual for the primary procedure and documentation supports additional work related to dural graft placement. |