2025 CPT code 61556
(Active) Effective Date: N/A Revision Date: N/A Surgery - Surgical Procedures on the Nervous System Surgery Feed
Craniotomy for craniosynostosis; frontal or parietal bone flap.
Modifiers may be applicable depending on the circumstances of the procedure.Consult the AMA CPT manual and payer specific guidelines for appropriate modifier use.
Craniotomy for craniosynostosis is medically necessary to correct the skull deformity, prevent potential intracranial pressure, and allow for normal brain growth.The procedure is considered medically necessary when other conservative treatments have failed or are not suitable for the patient.
The neurosurgeon or a team including a plastic surgeon is responsible for preparing the patient, making the incision, removing the bone flap, reshaping the skull, and closing the incision. Postoperative care and monitoring are also the responsibility of the surgical team.
In simple words: The doctor makes an opening in the skull to correct a problem where the skull bones fuse too early in a baby or young child.The doctor removes part of the skull, reshapes it to allow the brain to grow normally, and then closes the opening.
This procedure involves a craniotomy to address craniosynostosis, a condition where the skull bones fuse prematurely.A frontal or parietal bone flap is removed to reshape the skull and allow for normal brain growth. The procedure includes making an incision in the skull, removing the bone flap, remodeling the skull bones to their anatomically correct shape, and then closing the incision with sutures and a sterile dressing.
Example 1: A 6-month-old infant presents with sagittal craniosynostosis.A craniotomy with frontal bone flap removal and remodeling is performed to correct the skull deformity and alleviate potential intracranial pressure., A 1-year-old child is diagnosed with unilateral coronal craniosynostosis.A craniotomy with parietal bone flap removal and reshaping is performed to correct the asymmetrical head shape., A 2-year-old child with complex craniosynostosis involving multiple sutures undergoes a craniotomy with removal and remodeling of both frontal and parietal bone flaps.A neurosurgeon and plastic surgeon collaborate on the procedure.
** This procedure is typically performed on infants and young children. The specific surgical technique used may vary depending on the type and severity of craniosynostosis.Always confirm coding accuracy with the most recent CPT manual and payer guidelines.
- Revenue Code: P1G (MAJOR PROCEDURE - OTHER)
- RVU: Information not available in provided text.RVUs vary by location and payer.
- Global Days : Information not available in provided text.The global period will depend on payer guidelines and local policies.
- Payment Status: Active
- Modifier TC rule: A technical component (TC) modifier may be applicable depending on the circumstances of the procedure. Consult the AMA CPT manual and payer specific guidelines for appropriate modifier use.
- Fee Schedule : Historical fee schedule data is not available in provided text. Fee schedules vary by payer and location.
- Specialties:Neurosurgery, Plastic Surgery
- Place of Service:Inpatient Hospital, Ambulatory Surgical Center