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The CPT® Code 25900 refers to the surgical procedure of amputation of the forearm, specifically through the radius and ulna bones. This procedure is categorized as a below-elbow amputation, which can be performed at various levels: high, middle, or low. A high amputation occurs a few centimeters below the elbow joint, a middle amputation is executed through the shafts of the radius and ulna, and a low amputation is performed a few centimeters above the wrist. During the procedure, the patient is typically positioned with the operative side's shoulder slightly elevated to facilitate access to the forearm. The surgical team marks the incision lines for the skin and muscle flaps on the patient's skin, often utilizing an anterior/posterior fish-mouth flap technique. The incision is made perpendicular to the skin surface, allowing for the careful dissection of underlying soft tissue, where blood vessels and nerves are identified and managed. This meticulous approach ensures that large blood vessels are mobilized, ligated, and divided appropriately, while nerves are also mobilized, doubly ligated, and divided to allow for retraction into the muscle tissue. The procedure involves exposing the radius and ulna, creating periosteal flaps, and transecting the bones at the level of these flaps, ensuring that both bones are of equal length. The remaining bone is then covered with sutured periosteal flaps, and antagonistic muscle groups are sutured together and anchored to the periosteum, enveloping the remaining bone in muscle tissue. To enhance stability, muscle sutures may be reinforced with synthetic tape. After the amputation, drains are placed, and the subcutaneous fascia and skin are closed around these drains. A rigid dressing is applied to the site to minimize pain and prevent edema, ensuring optimal recovery conditions for the patient.
© Copyright 2025 Coding Ahead. All rights reserved.
The procedure described by CPT® Code 25900 is indicated for patients requiring amputation of the forearm due to various medical conditions or traumatic injuries. The specific indications for this procedure include:
The procedure for CPT® Code 25900 involves several critical steps to ensure a successful amputation of the forearm:
After the completion of the amputation procedure, the patient will require careful monitoring and post-operative care. Expected recovery includes managing pain through appropriate analgesics, monitoring for signs of infection at the surgical site, and ensuring that the dressing remains intact. The patient may also need physical therapy to adapt to the changes following the amputation and to facilitate rehabilitation. Follow-up appointments will be necessary to assess healing and to discuss options for prosthetic fitting if applicable. The surgical team will provide specific instructions regarding activity restrictions and care of the surgical site to ensure optimal recovery.
| Short Descr | AMPUTATION OF FOREARM | Medium Descr | AMPUTATION FOREARM THROUGH RADIUS & ULNA | Long Descr | Amputation, forearm, through radius and ulna; | Status Code | Active Code | Global Days | 090 - Major Surgery | PC/TC Indicator (26, TC) | 0 - Physician Service Code | Multiple Procedures (51) | 2 - Standard payment adjustment rules for multiple procedures apply. | Bilateral Surgery (50) | 1 - 150% payment adjustment for bilateral procedures applies. | Physician Supervisions | 09 - Concept does not apply. | Assistant Surgeon (80, 82) | 0 - Payment restriction for assistants at surgery applies to this procedure... | Co-Surgeons (62) | 0 - Co-surgeons not permitted for this procedure. | Team Surgery (66) | 0 - Team surgeons not permitted for this procedure. | Diagnostic Imaging Family | 99 - Concept Does Not Apply | APC Status Indicator | Inpatient Procedures, not paid under OPPS | Type of Service (TOS) | 2 - Surgery | Berenson-Eggers TOS (BETOS) | P3D - Major procedure, orthopedic - other | MUE | 1 | CCS Clinical Classification | 164 - Other OR therapeutic procedures on musculoskeletal system |
| 50 | Bilateral procedure: unless otherwise identified in the listings, bilateral procedures that are performed at the same session, should be identified by adding modifier 50 to the appropriate 5 digit code. note: this modifier should not be appended to designated "add-on" codes (see appendix d). | 51 | Multiple procedures: when multiple procedures, other than e/m services, physical medicine and rehabilitation services or provision of supplies (eg, vaccines), are performed at the same session by the same individual, the primary procedure or service may be reported as listed. the additional procedure(s) or service(s) may be identified by appending modifier 51 to the additional procedure or service code(s). note: this modifier should not be appended to designated "add-on" codes (see appendix d). | 58 | Staged or related procedure or service by the same physician or other qualified health care professional during the postoperative period: it may be necessary to indicate that the performance of a procedure or service during the postoperative period was: (a) planned or anticipated (staged); (b) more extensive than the original procedure; or (c) for therapy following a surgical procedure. this circumstance may be reported by adding modifier 58 to the staged or related procedure. note: for treatment of a problem that requires a return to the operating/procedure room (eg, unanticipated clinical condition), see modifier 78. | 78 | Unplanned return to the operating/procedure room by the same physician or other qualified health care professional following initial procedure for a related procedure during the postoperative period: it may be necessary to indicate that another procedure was performed during the postoperative period of the initial procedure (unplanned procedure following initial procedure). when this procedure is related to the first, and requires the use of an operating/procedure room, it may be reported by adding modifier 78 to the related procedure. (for repeat procedures, see modifier 76.) | 79 | Unrelated procedure or service by the same physician or other qualified health care professional during the postoperative period: the individual may need to indicate that the performance of a procedure or service during the postoperative period was unrelated to the original procedure. this circumstance may be reported by using modifier 79. (for repeat procedures on the same day, see modifier 76.) | 80 | Assistant surgeon: surgical assistant services may be identified by adding modifier 80 to the usual procedure number(s). | 82 | Assistant surgeon (when qualified resident surgeon not available): the unavailability of a qualified resident surgeon is a prerequisite for use of modifier 82 appended to the usual procedure code number(s). | AS | Physician assistant, nurse practitioner, or clinical nurse specialist services for assistant at surgery | GC | This service has been performed in part by a resident under the direction of a teaching physician | GW | Service not related to the hospice patient's terminal condition | LT | Left side (used to identify procedures performed on the left side of the body) | RT | Right side (used to identify procedures performed on the right side of the body) |
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| 2010-01-01 | Changed | Code description changed. |
| Pre-1990 | Added | Code added. |
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