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Official Description

Open treatment of femoral fracture, proximal end, neck, internal fixation or prosthetic replacement

© Copyright 2025 American Medical Association. All rights reserved.

Common Language Description

The CPT® Code 27236 refers to the open treatment of a femoral fracture located at the proximal end, specifically in the neck region, utilizing either internal fixation or prosthetic replacement methods. This procedure is typically indicated for patients who have sustained a fracture in the femoral neck, which is the area just below the ball of the hip joint. The open treatment approach involves making a surgical incision to access the fracture site directly, allowing for precise manipulation and stabilization of the fractured bone. The procedure can be performed using internal fixation techniques, which involve the use of screws to hold the bone fragments together, or through prosthetic replacement, where the damaged femoral head is replaced with an artificial implant. The choice between these methods depends on various factors, including the patient's age, activity level, and the specific characteristics of the fracture. The goal of this procedure is to restore the structural integrity of the hip joint, facilitate healing, and enable the patient to regain mobility and function in the affected limb.

© Copyright 2025 Coding Ahead. All rights reserved.

1. Indications

The open treatment of a femoral fracture at the proximal end, neck, is indicated for the following conditions:

  • Femoral Neck Fracture A fracture occurring in the neck of the femur, which may result from trauma or falls, particularly in elderly patients.
  • Displaced Fracture A fracture where the bone fragments are not aligned properly, necessitating surgical intervention to restore proper alignment.
  • Non-Union or Malunion Cases where previous conservative treatment has failed to achieve proper healing of the fracture, leading to persistent pain or dysfunction.

2. Procedure

The procedure for the open treatment of a femoral neck fracture involves several critical steps to ensure proper stabilization and healing of the fracture.

  • Step 1: Incision and Exposure An incision is made laterally over the hip joint to provide access to the fracture site. The hip capsule is then incised, allowing the surgeon to expose the femoral neck and clear any debris from the fracture area.
  • Step 2: Fracture Reduction If internal fixation is chosen, the fracture is carefully reduced to align the bone fragments properly. This step is crucial for ensuring optimal healing and function post-surgery.
  • Step 3: Guide Wire Insertion Guide wires are inserted to temporarily hold the reduced fracture in place. Typically, three guide wires are placed parallel to each other in an inverted triangle configuration, providing stability during the next steps.
  • Step 4: Screw Placement Appropriately sized cannulated screws are selected for fixation. The outer cortex of the proximal femur is reamed to accommodate the screws, which are then placed to secure the fracture. Radiographic confirmation is performed to ensure optimal screw placement and anatomic reduction of the fracture.
  • Step 5: Prosthetic Replacement (if applicable) If the femoral neck fracture is treated with prosthetic replacement, a hip hemiarthroplasty is performed. This involves the removal of the femoral head and the selection of an appropriately sized prosthetic implant. The femoral shaft is reamed to match the size and shape of the prosthetic stem, which is then inserted into the prepared femoral canal, potentially using bone cement for added stability.
  • Step 6: Final Assembly and Evaluation The metal ball prosthetic head is attached to the stem and manipulated into place within the hip joint. The surgeon evaluates the hip's range of motion to ensure proper function of the prosthetic implant before proceeding to close the joint capsule and reapproximate the skin.

3. Post-Procedure

Post-procedure care involves monitoring the patient for any complications and ensuring proper recovery. Patients may require physical therapy to regain strength and mobility in the hip joint. Pain management strategies will be implemented, and follow-up appointments will be scheduled to assess healing and function. The expected recovery time may vary based on the individual’s overall health, the complexity of the fracture, and the type of treatment performed, whether it be internal fixation or prosthetic replacement.

Short Descr TREAT THIGH FRACTURE
Medium Descr OPTX FEM FX PROX END NCK INT FIXJ/PROSTC RPLCMT
Long Descr Open treatment of femoral fracture, proximal end, neck, internal fixation or prosthetic replacement
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) 2 - Payment restriction for assistants at surgery does not apply to this procedure...
Co-Surgeons (62) 1 - Co-surgeons could be paid, though supporting documentation is required...
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) P3A - Major procedure, orthopedic - Hip fracture repair
MUE 1
CCS Clinical Classification 146 - Treatment, fracture or dislocation of hip and femur
RT Right side (used to identify procedures performed on the right side of the body)
LT Left side (used to identify procedures performed on the left side of the body)
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
80 Assistant surgeon: surgical assistant services may be identified by adding modifier 80 to the usual procedure number(s).
GW Service not related to the hospice patient's terminal condition
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).
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.)
QZ Crna service: without medical direction by a physician
CR Catastrophe/disaster related
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.
P3 A patient with severe systemic disease
81 Minimum assistant surgeon: minimum surgical assistant services are identified by adding modifier 81 to the usual procedure number.
22 Increased procedural services: when the work required to provide a service is substantially greater than typically required, it may be identified by adding modifier 22 to the usual procedure code. documentation must support the substantial additional work and the reason for the additional work (ie, increased intensity, time, technical difficulty of procedure, severity of patient's condition, physical and mental effort required). note: this modifier should not be appended to an e/m service.
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).
X4 Episodic/focused services: for reporting services by clinicians who provide focused care on particular types of treatment limited to a defined period and circumstance; the patient has a problem, acute or chronic, that will be treated with surgery, radiation, or some other type of generally time-limited intervention; reporting clinician service examples include but are not limited to, the orthopedic surgeon performing a knee replacement and seeing the patient through the postoperative period
59 Distinct procedural service: under certain circumstances, it may be necessary to indicate that a procedure or service was distinct or independent from other non-e/m services performed on the same day. modifier 59 is used to identify procedures/services, other than e/m services, that are not normally reported together, but are appropriate under the circumstances. documentation must support a different session, different procedure or surgery, different site or organ system, separate incision/excision, separate lesion, or separate injury (or area of injury in extensive injuries) not ordinarily encountered or performed on the same day by the same individual. however, when another already established modifier is appropriate it should be used rather than modifier 59. only if no more descriptive modifier is available, and the use of modifier 59 best explains the circumstances, should modifier 59 be used. note: modifier 59 should not be appended to an e/m service. to report a separate and distinct e/m service with a non-e/m service performed on the same date, see modifier 25.
Q6 Service furnished under a fee-for-time compensation arrangement by a substitute physician or by a substitute physical therapist furnishing outpatient physical therapy services in a health professional shortage area, a medically underserved area, or a rural area
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.)
P2 A patient with mild systemic disease
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).
52 Reduced services: under certain circumstances a service or procedure is partially reduced or eliminated at the discretion of the physician or other qualified health care professional. under these circumstances the service provided can be identified by its usual procedure number and the addition of modifier 52, signifying that the service is reduced. this provides a means of reporting reduced services without disturbing the identification of the basic service. note: for hospital outpatient reporting of a previously scheduled procedure/service that is partially reduced or cancelled as a result of extenuating circumstances or those that threaten the well-being of the patient prior to or after administration of anesthesia, see modifiers 73 and 74 (see modifiers approved for asc hospital outpatient use).
53 Discontinued procedure: under certain circumstances, the physician or other qualified health care professional may elect to terminate a surgical or diagnostic procedure. due to extenuating circumstances or those that threaten the well being of the patient, it may be necessary to indicate that a surgical or diagnostic procedure was started but discontinued. this circumstance may be reported by adding modifier 53 to the code reported by the individual for the discontinued procedure. note: this modifier is not used to report the elective cancellation of a procedure prior to the patient's anesthesia induction and/or surgical preparation in the operating suite. for outpatient hospital/ambulatory surgery center (asc) reporting of a previously scheduled procedure/service that is partially reduced or cancelled as a result of extenuating circumstances or those that threaten the well being of the patient prior to or after administration of anesthesia, see modifiers 73 and 74 (see modifiers approved for asc hospital outpatient use).
54 Surgical care only: when 1 physician or other qualified health care professional performs a surgical procedure and another provides preoperative and/or postoperative management, surgical services may be identified by adding modifier 54 to the usual procedure number.
55 Postoperative management only: when 1 physician or other qualified health care professional performed the postoperative management and another performed the surgical procedure, the postoperative component may be identified by adding modifier 55 to the usual procedure number.
62 Two surgeons: when 2 surgeons work together as primary surgeons performing distinct part(s) of a procedure, each surgeon should report his/her distinct operative work by adding modifier 62 to the procedure code and any associated add-on code(s) for that procedure as long as both surgeons continue to work together as primary surgeons. each surgeon should report the co-surgery once using the same procedure code. if additional procedure(s) (including add-on procedure(s) are performed during the same surgical session, separate code(s) may also be reported with modifier 62 added. note: if a co-surgeon acts as an assistant in the performance of additional procedure(s), other than those reported with the modifier 62, during the same surgical session, those services may be reported using separate procedure code(s) with modifier 80 or modifier 82 added, as appropriate.
76 Repeat procedure or service by same physician or other qualified health care professional: it may be necessary to indicate that a procedure or service was repeated by the same physician or other qualified health care professional subsequent to the original procedure or service. this circumstance may be reported by adding modifier 76 to the repeated procedure or service. note: this modifier should not be appended to an e/m service.
93 Synchronous telemedicine service rendered via telephone or other real-time interactive audio-only telecommunications system : synchronous telemedicine service is defined as a real-time interaction between a physician or other qualified health care professional and a patient who is located away at a distant site from the physician or other qualified health care professional. the totality of the communication of information exchanged between the physician or other qualified health care professional and the patient during the course of the synchronous telemedicine service must be of an amount and nature that is sufficient to meet the key components and/or requirements of the same service when rendered via a face-to-face interaction.
99 Multiple modifiers: under certain circumstances 2 or more modifiers may be necessary to completely delineate a service. in such situations modifier 99 should be added to the basic procedure, and other applicable modifiers may be listed as part of the description of the service.
AF Specialty physician
AG Primary physician
AQ Physician providing a service in an unlisted health professional shortage area (hpsa)
CC Procedure code change (use 'cc' when the procedure code submitted was changed either for administrative reasons or because an incorrect code was filed)
ET Emergency services
FS Split (or shared) evaluation and management visit
GF Non-physician (e.g. nurse practitioner (np), certified registered nurse anesthetist (crna), certified registered nurse (crn), clinical nurse specialist (cns), physician assistant (pa)) services in a critical access hospital
GQ Via asynchronous telecommunications system
GV Attending physician not employed or paid under arrangement by the patient's hospice provider
KT Beneficiary resides in a competitive bidding area and travels outside that competitive bidding area and receives a competitive bid item
U7 Medicaid level of care 7, as defined by each state
XE Separate encounter, a service that is distinct because it occurred during a separate encounter
XS Separate structure, a service that is distinct because it was performed on a separate organ/structure
XU Unusual non-overlapping service, the use of a service that is distinct because it does not overlap usual components of the main service
Date
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2001-01-01 Changed Code description changed.
Pre-1990 Added Code added.
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