2025 CPT code 25400

Surgical repair of a radius or ulna nonunion or malunion without a bone graft.

Follow the official CPT coding guidelines for surgical procedures.Ensure appropriate documentation supports the medical necessity and the specific procedure performed.

Modifiers may be applicable depending on the circumstances of the procedure. Consult the CPT manual for details on appropriate modifier usage.

Medical necessity for a 25400 procedure is established when a nonunion or malunion of the radius or ulna significantly impairs the patient's function and causes persistent pain that is not adequately managed by conservative treatment.The procedure is aimed at restoring anatomical alignment and achieving bony union, thereby improving function and reducing pain.

The orthopedic surgeon is responsible for performing the entire procedure, including the incision, bone exposure, excision of the irregular bone, reduction and fixation, irrigation, wound closure, and application of the splint.

IMPORTANT 25405 (with autograft), 25415 (radius and ulna without graft), 25420 (radius and ulna with autograft)

In simple words: This surgery fixes a broken radius or ulna bone in the forearm that hasn't healed properly or has healed incorrectly. The doctor makes a cut, removes the damaged bone, puts the ends back together, and uses screws or plates to hold it in place.No extra bone is added.

This surgical procedure involves the open treatment of a nonunion or malunion of the radius or ulna bone in the forearm.The procedure includes an incision over the radial or ulnar shaft, exposure of the nonunion or malunion site, excision of the irregular bone, reduction and fixation of the bone ends (e.g., with screws and plates), irrigation, wound closure, and application of a splint.The procedure does not include the use of a bone graft.

Example 1: A patient presents with a nonunion of the radius following a fracture six months prior.The surgeon performs a 25400 procedure using a compression technique to realign the bone fragments and achieve union., A patient with a malunion of the ulna after a fall requires surgical correction. The surgeon performs a 25400 procedure, excising the malunited segment and achieving anatomical reduction using plates and screws., A patient with a comminuted fracture of the radius that has failed to heal completely undergoes a 25400 procedure. The surgeon excises the non-united fragments, performs open reduction, and uses intramedullary fixation to achieve bony union.

* Preoperative radiographs demonstrating the nonunion or malunion.* Operative report detailing the surgical technique, including the type of fixation used.* Postoperative radiographs confirming the reduction and fixation.* Pathology report if any tissue was sent for analysis.* Appropriate documentation supporting medical necessity for the procedure.

** This code is used for procedures without bone grafting.If a bone graft is used, code 25405 is more appropriate.

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