2025 CPT code 27520
Closed treatment of patellar fracture, without manipulation.
Modifiers may be applicable. For instance, modifier 54 is used if the provider is only providing the surgical care and not the postoperative care.
Medical necessity for this procedure is established by the presence of a patellar fracture that can be appropriately managed without surgical intervention. The extensor mechanism must be intact, and the fracture should be stable enough to heal with immobilization alone.
The physician is responsible for assessing the fracture, determining the appropriate treatment, applying the immobilization device, and providing follow-up care.
In simple words: This procedure involves treating a broken kneecap without surgery. The doctor stabilizes the bone without needing to realign the pieces, and a cast or splint is usually applied.
This code describes the closed treatment of a fractured patella (kneecap) when manipulation is not required. It includes immobilization, typically with a cast or splint.
Example 1: A patient presents with a non-displaced patellar fracture and an intact extensor mechanism. The physician chooses to treat the fracture with a long leg cast., A patient sustains a minimally displaced patellar fracture without disruption of the extensor mechanism. Closed treatment is performed, and the patient is placed in a splint., An elderly patient with a stable, non-displaced patellar fracture is treated with closed reduction and immobilization to avoid the risks of surgery.
Documentation should include details of the fracture, confirmation that the extensor mechanism is intact, type of immobilization used, and any associated injuries. Radiographic evidence of the fracture is essential.
- Specialties:Orthopedic Surgery
- Place of Service:Office, Emergency Room - Hospital, Outpatient Hospital