Summary & Overview
CPT 73552: Femur X‑ray, Minimum Two Projections
CPT code 73552 designates a two‑projection radiographic exam of the femur used to assess fractures, swelling, or localized thigh pain. This code represents a common, foundational diagnostic imaging service across acute care, outpatient, and urgent settings and is central to timely musculoskeletal evaluation and triage. Nationally, femur radiography supports emergency diagnosis, surgical planning, and outpatient follow‑up, making accurate coding and site-of-service reporting important for clinical documentation and claims processing.
Key payers considered in this analysis include Aetna, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Cigna Health, UnitedHealthcare, and Medicare. Readers will find an overview of clinical indications and service context, payer coverage patterns, common modifiers observed on claims, and benchmarking insights where available. The publication also summarizes coding tips relevant to multi‑projection femur radiography, typical sites of service, and areas where policy updates or payer edits most often affect reimbursement and claim adjudication. Data not available in the input is identified where applicable.
Billing Code Overview
CPT code 73552 describes a diagnostic radiography procedure of the femur (thigh bone) using a minimum of two projections. The exam is performed to evaluate suspected fracture, swelling, or other pain localized to the thigh.
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Service type: Diagnostic X-ray imaging of the femur, multi‑projection
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Typical site of service: Outpatient radiology departments, hospital radiology suites, urgent care centers, and ambulatory imaging centers
Clinical & Coding Specifications
Clinical Context
A 42-year-old patient presents to the emergency department after a fall from standing height with thigh pain, swelling, and difficulty bearing weight. The triage nurse documents localized tenderness over the mid-femoral shaft and inability to ambulate without assistance. The emergency physician orders diagnostic imaging to evaluate for femoral fracture. A radiologic technologist performs 73552—radiographic imaging of the femur with a minimum of two projections (typically anteroposterior and lateral) including any necessary positioning for the suspected injury. Images are reviewed by the on-call radiologist who issues an interpretive report describing the presence or absence of fracture, location (proximal, mid-shaft, distal), possible displacement, comminution, and associated soft-tissue findings. Results are communicated to the treating clinician to guide management (e.g., immobilization, orthopedic consultation, advanced imaging). Typical throughput includes registration, clinical indication documentation (mechanism of injury, focal exam), image acquisition, image post-processing, and radiologist interpretation. The typical site of service is the hospital radiology department or emergency department imaging suite; outpatient imaging centers also commonly perform this service for non-emergent thigh pain or follow-up evaluations.
Coding Specifications
| Modifier | Description | When to Use |
|---|---|---|
26 | Professional component |