2025 CPT code 25151
Effective Date: N/A Surgery - Surgical Procedures on the Musculoskeletal System Feed
Partial excision (craterization, saucerization, or diaphysectomy) of bone (e.g., for osteomyelitis); radius.
Modifiers may be applicable in certain situations. For example, modifier 76 may be used to indicate a repeat procedure by the same physician. Modifier 54 can be used if another healthcare professional will provide postoperative care.
Medical necessity for this code is established by the presence of a documented bone infection (osteomyelitis) requiring surgical intervention to remove the infected tissue and promote healing.
The surgeon is responsible for preparing the patient, making the incision, exposing the bone, removing the infected portion, cleaning the area, administering antibiotics, and closing the incision.
In simple words: This procedure involves removing infected bone from the radius. The surgeon makes an incision to expose the bone, removes the infected part, and may create a depression or crater in the bone. The area is then cleaned, treated with antibiotics, and closed with sutures.
Partial excision (craterization, saucerization, or diaphysectomy) of bone (e.g., for osteomyelitis); radius. (For head or neck of radius or olecranon process, see 24145, 24147)
Example 1: A patient presents with chronic osteomyelitis of the radius following a fracture. The surgeon performs a partial excision of the infected bone (25151) to remove the infected tissue., A patient with a persistent bone infection in the radius undergoes a saucerization procedure (25151) to remove the infected bone and create a shallow depression to promote drainage and healing., A patient with osteomyelitis affecting a portion of the radius shaft requires a diaphysectomy (25151) to remove the diseased bone segment.
Documentation should include details about the location and extent of the bone infection, the surgical technique used (craterization, saucerization, or diaphysectomy), and any complications encountered. Preoperative and postoperative diagnoses, operative findings, and any cultures taken should also be documented.
** Code 25151 is specific to the radius bone and does not include procedures on the head or neck of the radius or olecranon process. If these areas are involved, different codes (24145, 24147) should be used. This code also includes the application and removal of the first cast, splint, or traction device.
- Specialties:Orthopedic Surgery, General Surgery
- Place of Service:Inpatient Hospital, Outpatient Hospital, Ambulatory Surgical Center