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    v1.0.28
    OpenPayerBilling CodesDurable Medical EquipmentHCPCS hcpcs-e0870-traction-frame-footboard-extremity-traction-bucks
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    HCPCS Level II E0870: Traction Frame Attached to Footboard, Extremity Traction

    HCPCS Level II code E0870 describes a traction frame attached to a footboard used for extremity traction (e.g., Buck's traction); the service is durable medical equipment intended to provide immobilization and traction for a lower extremity and is typically provided in an inpatient hospital, outpatient clinic, or long-term care setting where skeletal or skin traction is applied to manage fractures, muscle spasms, or alignment prior to definitive treatment.

    For related coverage guidance, see recent payer policy updates: Interferential Stimulation Devices (for home use), Durable Medical Equipment (DME): Tumor Treating Fields (Alternating Electric Field Therapy) Medical Guideline, Durable Medical Equipment (DME): Bone Growth Stimulators Medical Guideline.

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    Table of contents

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    Clinical & Coding Specifications

    Clinical Context

    A typical patient is an adult admitted to an inpatient orthopedic unit or presenting to an orthopedic clinic with an acute or subacute proximal femur, hip, or lower extremity fracture, or with spasmodic muscle contracture requiring temporary immobilization and skin or skeletal traction. The treating team (orthopedic surgeon, orthopedic physician assistant, or trained nursing staff) applies a traction frame attached to the footboard (e.g., Buck's traction) to provide longitudinal pull on the affected extremity to reduce pain, align fracture fragments, and maintain immobilization while awaiting definitive fixation or to allow soft-tissue rest.

    Clinical workflow: initial evaluation and imaging by the orthopedic service; selection of traction as a temporizing or therapeutic measure; application of the traction frame at bedside or in a procedure room with appropriate analgesia and positioning; documentation of laterality, weight applied, skin integrity checks, neurovascular assessments, and regular adjustments; coordination with physical therapy and nursing for traction care; removal of the traction device when definitive surgery is performed or when traction is no longer indicated.

    Related CPT Codes

    CPT CodeDescriptionRelationship to This Procedure
    29355Closed treatment of femoral shaft fracture; without manipulation, with tractionOften performed in conjunction with application of a traction frame as the method of initial management.
    20690Application of external fixation device (unlisted)External fixation may be used instead of or after traction; billing for complex external systems can relate to traction management.
    11042Debridement; subcutaneous tissue (example wound care)Used when skin breakdown or pressure ulcer under traction hardware requires debridement.
    20550Injection for trigger point or muscle spasm, single or multiple sitesMay be used adjunctively for muscle spasm associated with injuries managed with traction.
    99223Initial hospital care, typically 70 minutes or moreRepresents inpatient evaluation and management when admitting a patient who will receive traction.

    Related Modifiers

    11 rows

    ModifierDescriptionWhen to Use
    22Modifier –22 (Increased Procedural Services) is used when a reported procedure is substantially more extensive than normally required. The CPT Manual and CMS state it may be appended only when the…- When to use: Append modifier -22 to a procedural CPT code when the service performed is substantially more extensive than the usual service described by that code — i.e., the procedure required…
    23Modifier -23 (Unusual Anesthesia) is used on anesthesia service CPT codes when a procedure that normally requires no anesthesia or only local anesthesia must be performed under general anesthesia…- Use modifier -23 only on anesthesia CPT codes (00100–01999) when a procedure that normally requires no anesthesia or only local anesthesia must be performed under general anesthesia because of…
    52Modifier ‑52 (Reduced Services) indicates that a service or procedure was partially reduced or omitted at the provider’s discretion, allowing reporting of the basic procedure number with a qualifier…- Use modifier -52 when a physician or qualified health professional electively reduces or omits part of a procedure or service (for example, performing fewer required views or omitting a portion of…
    53Modifier 53 (Discontinued Procedure) signals that a surgical or diagnostic service was begun by the physician but terminated because of extenuating circumstances that threatened the patient’s…- Use modifier -53 when a physician/qualified healthcare professional has started a surgical or diagnostic procedure (e.g., anesthesia administered, incision or scope insertion) and then discontinues…
    54Modifier ‑54 (“Surgical care only”) is appended to a CPT surgical procedure when the reporting surgeon performs the intraoperative (surgical) component but does not furnish the preoperative and/or…- Use modifier -54 when the reporting surgeon provided only the intraoperative (surgical) component of a procedure and preoperative and/or postoperative management has been or will be provided by…
    55Modifier –55 indicates the billing provider furnished only postoperative management for a procedure that has a global surgical period. According to AAPC, this modifier is appended to the same CPT…- Use modifier -55 when billing the same CPT surgical code that has a 10- or 90-day global period and you, as a provider other than the original surgeon, furnished ONLY postoperative management (no…
    56Modifier ‑56 indicates the reporting provider furnished only the preoperative management for a surgical procedure and did not perform the intraoperative or postoperative care. It is used in…- Use Modifier -56 when a provider performs only the preoperative management in a split‑care situation (one physician manages preop care while a different physician performs the intraoperative…
    62Modifier 62 indicates that two surgeons function as co‑surgeons, each performing distinct parts of the same primary surgical procedure. It is appended to the primary procedure code (and any…- Use modifier -62 when two surgeons act as co‑surgeons (both primary surgeons) on a single definitive primary procedure, each performing distinct parts of the same surgical procedure (append -62 to…
    78CPT modifier -78 indicates an unplanned, related return to the operating or procedure room by the same provider during the global postoperative period. It is appended when treatment for a…- Use modifier -78 when an unplanned, related complication during the original procedure’s global postoperative period requires the patient to return to a formal operating or procedure room and the…
    80CPT® Modifier 80 (Assistant Surgeon) is appended to a surgical CPT code when a physician (MD or DO) provides full, continuous assistance throughout the operative procedure. It is intended only for…- Use CPT Modifier -80 when a physician (MD or DO) serves as an assistant surgeon and provides full, continuous assistance throughout the entire operative procedure; append -80 to the surgical CPT…

    Showing 1–10 of 11

    Related Provider Taxonomies

    8 rows

    Taxonomy CodeSpecialtyNotes
    2086S0102XSurgical Critical Care PhysicianA surgeon with expertise in the management of the critically ill and postoperative patient, particularly the trauma victim, who specializes in critica…
    207L00000XAnesthesiology PhysicianAn anesthesiologist is trained to provide pain relief and maintenance, or restoration, of a stable condition during and immediately following an opera…
    106S00000XBehavior TechnicianThe behavior technician is a paraprofessional who practices under the close, ongoing supervision of a behavior analyst or assistant behavior analyst c…
    3336C0002XClinic PharmacyA pharmacy in a clinic, emergency room or hospital (outpatient) that dispenses medications to patients for self-administration under the supervision o…
    246YC3301XHospital Based Coding SpecialistNone
    364SX0204XPediatric Oncology Clinical Nurse SpecialistPhysician Assistants & Advanced Practice Nursing Providers · Clinical Nurse Specialist
    247000000XHealth Information TechnicianPreferred term for an Accredited Record Technician who is an individual with an associate's degree from an accredited college or independent study pro…
    193200000XMulti-Specialty GroupA business group of one or more individual practitioners, who practice with different areas of specialization.

    Related Payer Policy Updates

    Specialty: Durable Medical Equipment (DME)1 / 3

    5 rows

    PolicyPayerEffective Date
    Interferential Stimulation Devices (for home use)Moda Health2026-10-01
    Durable Medical Equipment (DME): Tumor Treating Fields (Alternating Electric Field Therapy) Medical GuidelineWPS Health Insurance2026-10-01
    Durable Medical Equipment (DME): Bone Growth Stimulators Medical GuidelineWPS Health Insurance2026-10-01
    General Durable Medical Equipment (DME) Medical GuidelineWPS Health Insurance2026-10-01
    Prior Authorization for Durable Medical Equipment (DME)Blue Cross Blue Shield - Rhode Island2026-10-01

    Related Codes

    HCPCS-E0100-CANE-DURABLE-MEDICAL-EQUIPMENT-AMBULATION

    HCPCS E0100: Cane, Adjustable or Fixed, With Tip

    HCPCS-E0105-CANE-QUAD-THREE-PRONG-MOBILITY-AID

    HCPCS Level II E0105: Cane, Quad or Three-Prong, Includes Tips

    HCPCS-E0110-FOREARM-CRUTCHES-PAIR-DME-MOBILITY

    HCPCS Level II E0110: Forearm Crutches, Pair, Complete with Tips and Handgrips

    HCPCS-E0111-CRUTCH-FOREARM-DURABLE-MEDICAL-EQUIPMENT

    HCPCS Level II E0111: Crutch, Forearm, With Tip and Handgrips

    HCPCS-E0112-UNDERARM-WOOD-CRUTCHES-PAIR

    HCPCS Level II E0112: Underarm Wooden Crutches, Pair

    HCPCS-E0113-CRUTCH-UNDERARM-WOOD-ADJUSTABLE-FIXED-WITH-PAD-TIP-HANDGRIP

    HCPCS Level II E0113: Crutch Underarm, Wood, Adjustable or Fixed

    HCPCS-E0114-UNDERARM-CRUTCHES-PAIR-ADJUSTABLE-FIXED

    HCPCS Level II E0114: Underarm (Axillary) Crutches, Adjustable or Fixed, Pair

    HCPCS-E0116-UNDERARM-CRUTCH-NON-WOOD-ADJUSTABLE-FIXED

    HCPCS E0116: Underarm Crutch, Non-Wood, Adjustable/Fixed with Pad

    HCPCS-E0117-ARTICULATING-SPRING-ASSISTED-UNDERARM-CRUTCH

    HCPCS Level II E0117: Crutch, Underarm, Articulating, Spring-Assisted

    HCPCS-E0118-LOWER-LEG-PLATFORM-CRUTCH-SUBSTITUTE

    HCPCS E0118: Crutch Substitute, Lower Leg Platform

    Showing 1–10 of 670

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    Frequently Asked Questions

    References

    1. 1.CPT® Codes and Descriptions. AAPC. Retrieved Aug 11, 2026.Maintains the CPT code set's official descriptions and guidelines, licensed from the American Medical Association, used as the definitional source for CPT codes on this page.
    2. 2.HCPCS Quarterly Update. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). Retrieved Aug 11, 2026.CMS's quarterly release of HCPCS Level II codes and short/long descriptors, the source for HCPCS code definitions and update history.
    3. 3.ICD-10-CM Full Code List. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). Retrieved Aug 11, 2026.CMS's complete ICD-10-CM diagnosis code list, used to cross-reference diagnosis codes associated with this procedure or service.
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