2025 CPT code 25400
(Active) Effective Date: N/A Revision Date: N/A Surgery - Repair, Revision, and/or Reconstruction Procedures on the Forearm and Wrist Musculoskeletal System Feed
Surgical repair of a radius or ulna nonunion or malunion without a bone graft.
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.
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.
- Revenue Code: P3D (Major Procedure, Orthopedic - Other)
- RVU: This information is not available in the provided text.Consult the current CPT codebook or other relevant reimbursement resources for the most up-to-date RVU values.
- Global Days : The global period for this procedure is not specified in the provided text.Consult the current CPT codebook or other relevant reimbursement resources for this information.
- Payment Status: Active
- Modifier TC rule: A technical component (TC) modifier is not typically applicable to this code as it describes the entire procedure.
- Fee Schedule : Historical fee schedule data is not available in the provided text.Refer to relevant fee schedules and historical data for that information.
- Specialties:Orthopedic Surgery
- Place of Service:Inpatient Hospital, Ambulatory Surgical Center, Office