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Official Description

Open treatment of femoral shaft fracture with plate/screws, with or without cerclage

© Copyright 2025 American Medical Association. All rights reserved.

Common Language Description

Open treatment of a femoral shaft fracture involves a surgical procedure aimed at stabilizing a fracture located in the shaft of the femur, which is the long bone in the thigh. This procedure is typically indicated when a fracture is displaced or unstable, necessitating surgical intervention to ensure proper alignment and healing. The treatment utilizes a plate and screws to secure the bone fragments together, which may be supplemented with cerclage wire for additional support. The surgical approach requires making an incision over the fracture site to access the bone directly. Once the fracture is exposed, any debris is cleared away to facilitate proper alignment and stabilization. The use of traction or a femoral distraction device may be employed to help reduce the fracture, ensuring that the bone fragments are properly aligned before the plate is applied. The selected plate is then positioned across the fracture and secured with screws, providing a stable construct that allows for optimal healing of the femur. This method is essential for restoring the function of the leg and preventing complications associated with improper healing of the fracture.

© Copyright 2025 Coding Ahead. All rights reserved.

1. Indications

The open treatment of a femoral shaft fracture with plate and screws is indicated for the following conditions:

  • Displaced Femoral Shaft Fracture - When the fracture fragments are not aligned properly and require surgical intervention to restore anatomical position.
  • Unstable Fracture - In cases where the fracture is unstable and cannot be adequately managed with conservative treatment methods.
  • Fractures Requiring Surgical Stabilization - Situations where the fracture necessitates surgical stabilization to promote healing and restore function.

2. Procedure

The procedure for the open treatment of a femoral shaft fracture with plate and screws involves several critical steps:

  • Step 1: Incision - An incision is made over the femoral shaft at the site of the fracture to provide direct access to the bone. This incision is carefully planned to minimize damage to surrounding tissues.
  • Step 2: Debridement - The fracture site is cleared of any debris, including bone fragments and soft tissue, to ensure a clean area for stabilization. This step is crucial for preventing infection and promoting healing.
  • Step 3: Fracture Reduction - Traction or a femoral distraction device is utilized to reduce the fracture, aligning the bone fragments in their proper anatomical position. This step is essential for achieving optimal healing outcomes.
  • Step 4: Plate Selection - An appropriately sized and configured plate is selected based on the specific characteristics of the fracture. The choice of plate is critical for providing adequate support and stability.
  • Step 5: Plate Application - The selected plate is placed across the fracture site and anchored securely with screws. This fixation method stabilizes the fracture and allows for early mobilization.
  • Step 6: Cerclage Wire Application (if necessary) - A wire cerclage may be wrapped around the bone at the fracture site to provide additional stabilization, particularly in cases where the fracture is complex or unstable.

3. Post-Procedure

After the open treatment of a femoral shaft fracture, post-procedure care is essential for recovery. Patients are typically monitored for signs of complications, such as infection or improper healing. Pain management is provided, and physical therapy may be initiated to promote mobility and strength. Follow-up appointments are scheduled to assess the healing process through radiographic imaging, ensuring that the fracture remains properly aligned and stable. The expected recovery time may vary based on the severity of the fracture and the patient's overall health, but adherence to rehabilitation protocols is crucial for optimal outcomes.

Short Descr TREATMENT OF THIGH FRACTURE
Medium Descr OPTX FEM SHFT FX W/PLATE/SCREWS W/WO CERCLAGE
Long Descr Open treatment of femoral shaft fracture with plate/screws, with or without cerclage
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) 2 - Co-surgeons permitted and no documentation required if the two- specialty requirement is met.
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 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
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).
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).
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.
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.
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.
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).
AQ Physician providing a service in an unlisted health professional shortage area (hpsa)
CR Catastrophe/disaster related
ET Emergency services
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
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
SA Nurse practitioner rendering service in collaboration with a physician
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
XP Separate practitioner, a service that is distinct because it was performed by a different practitioner
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
Action
Notes
1993-01-01 Added First appearance in code book in 1993.
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