© Copyright 2025 American Medical Association. All rights reserved.
The CPT® Code 27501 refers to the closed treatment of a supracondylar or transcondylar femoral fracture, which can occur with or without intercondylar extension, and is characterized by the absence of manipulation. In anatomical terms, the distal femur features two prominent projections known as the lateral and medial epicondyles. When a fracture occurs just above these epicondyles, it is classified as a supracondylar fracture. Conversely, a fracture that traverses through the epicondyles is termed a transcondylar fracture. These fractures may also extend into the intercondylar fossa, which is the area located between the epicondyles. To confirm the presence and extent of the fracture, separate radiographs are obtained. Additionally, a thorough neurovascular examination is conducted to assess the integrity of the nerves and blood vessels surrounding the injury site. Importantly, the procedure does not involve any manipulation of the fracture fragments, and a leg brace is subsequently applied to provide stabilization to the fractured area, facilitating the healing process.
© Copyright 2025 Coding Ahead. All rights reserved.
The closed treatment of supracondylar or transcondylar femoral fractures is indicated in the following scenarios:
The procedure for the closed treatment of a supracondylar or transcondylar femoral fracture involves several key steps:
Post-procedure care involves monitoring the patient for any signs of complications, such as changes in neurovascular status or improper healing of the fracture. The leg brace should remain in place for the duration of the healing process, which may vary depending on the severity of the fracture and the patient's overall health. Follow-up appointments are necessary to assess the healing progress through additional imaging and clinical evaluations. Patients may also be advised on rehabilitation exercises to restore function and strength once the fracture has sufficiently healed.
| Short Descr | TREATMENT OF THIGH FRACTURE | Medium Descr | CLTX SPRCNDYLR/TRNSCNDYLR FEM FX W/O MANJ | Long Descr | Closed treatment of supracondylar or transcondylar femoral fracture with or without intercondylar extension, without manipulation | 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 | Procedure or Service, Multiple Reduction Applies | ASC Payment Indicator | Surgical procedure on ASC list in CY 2007; payment based on OPPS relative payment weight. | Type of Service (TOS) | 2 - Surgery | Berenson-Eggers TOS (BETOS) | P3D - Major procedure, orthopedic - other | MUE | 1 | CCS Clinical Classification | 146 - Treatment, fracture or dislocation of hip and femur |
| 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. | 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). | 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. | 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. | 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. | 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.) | AQ | Physician providing a service in an unlisted health professional shortage area (hpsa) | AS | Physician assistant, nurse practitioner, or clinical nurse specialist services for assistant at surgery | CR | Catastrophe/disaster related | GC | This service has been performed in part by a resident under the direction of a teaching physician | GV | Attending physician not employed or paid under arrangement by the patient's hospice provider | 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) | XS | Separate structure, a service that is distinct because it was performed on a separate organ/structure |
|
Date
|
Action
|
Notes
|
|---|---|---|
| 1993-01-01 | Added | First appearance in code book in 1993. |
Get instant expert-level medical coding assistance.