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A radiologic examination of the elbow, designated by CPT® Code 73070, involves the use of X-ray imaging to capture detailed images of the elbow joint. This procedure utilizes indirect ionizing radiation, which is effective in visualizing non-uniform materials such as human tissue. The varying densities and compositions of the tissues allow certain X-rays to be absorbed while others pass through, resulting in a two-dimensional representation of the internal structures of the elbow. This examination is particularly important for diagnosing conditions such as fractures or dislocations, especially when the patient is unable to perform normal movements like extension, flexion, supination, and pronation. Typically, a standard radiologic evaluation of the elbow requires a minimum of two views: an anteroposterior projection taken with the elbow fully extended and a lateral view captured with the elbow flexed. In cases where subtle fractures are suspected, particularly involving the radial head, an additional oblique view may be included to enhance diagnostic accuracy. The ability of the patient to maintain specific positions during the imaging process is crucial for obtaining clear and informative images. For a comprehensive assessment, CPT® Code 73070 should be reported for the two-view examination, while CPT® Code 73080 is applicable for examinations that include three or more projections.
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Fractures X-ray imaging of the elbow is often indicated to assess for potential fractures, particularly in cases where there is a history of trauma or injury.
Dislocations The procedure is also performed to evaluate dislocations of the elbow joint, which may present with limited range of motion or visible deformity.
Acute Pain Patients presenting with acute pain in the elbow region may require this examination to rule out underlying skeletal injuries.
Inability to Move The examination is indicated when a patient is unable to perform normal movements of the elbow, such as extension, flexion, supination, and pronation.
Step 1: The patient is positioned appropriately to allow for optimal imaging of the elbow joint. For the anteroposterior view, the elbow should be fully extended, and the arm should be placed in a stable position to minimize movement during the X-ray exposure.
Step 2: The first X-ray is taken from the front to back (anteroposterior projection) with the elbow in full extension. This view provides a clear image of the joint space and surrounding structures, allowing for the assessment of any fractures or dislocations.
Step 3: The second X-ray is captured in a lateral view, which requires the elbow to be flexed at approximately 90 degrees. This lateral projection is crucial for visualizing the alignment of the bones and any potential injuries that may not be visible in the anteroposterior view.
Step 4: If necessary, an additional oblique view may be obtained to further evaluate the radial head and capitellar region, particularly in cases of suspected subtle fractures or when the patient presents with acute pain and trauma. This view helps to provide a more comprehensive assessment of the elbow joint.
After the radiologic examination, the images are reviewed by a qualified radiologist or physician to interpret the findings. The patient may be advised to follow up with their healthcare provider to discuss the results and any necessary further actions, such as additional imaging or treatment options. There are typically no specific post-procedure care requirements for the patient, but they should be informed about any symptoms to monitor, such as increased pain or swelling in the elbow area. The results of the X-ray examination will guide the next steps in management, whether that involves conservative treatment, physical therapy, or surgical intervention if indicated.
| Short Descr | X-RAY EXAM OF ELBOW | Medium Descr | RADEX ELBOW 2 VIEWS | Long Descr | Radiologic examination, elbow; 2 views | Status Code | Active Code | Global Days | XXX - Global Concept Does Not Apply | PC/TC Indicator (26, TC) | 1 - Diagnostic Tests for Radiology Services | Multiple Procedures (51) | 0 - No payment adjustment rules for multiple procedures apply. | Bilateral Surgery (50) | 3 - The usual payment adjustment for bilateral procedures does not apply. | 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 | STV-Packaged Codes | ASC Payment Indicator | Packaged service/item; no separate payment made. | Type of Service (TOS) | 4 - Diagnostic Radiology | Berenson-Eggers TOS (BETOS) | I1B - Standard imaging - musculoskeletal | MUE | 2 | CCS Clinical Classification | 226 - Other diagnostic radiology and related techniques |
| 26 | Professional component: certain procedures are a combination of a physician or other qualified health care professional component and a technical component. when the physician or other qualified health care professional component is reported separately, the service may be identified by adding modifier 26 to the usual procedure number. | 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) | TC | Technical component; under certain circumstances, a charge may be made for the technical component alone; under those circumstances the technical component charge is identified by adding modifier 'tc' to the usual procedure number; technical component charges are institutional charges and not billed separately by physicians; however, portable x-ray suppliers only bill for technical component and should utilize modifier tc; the charge data from portable x-ray suppliers will then be used to build customary and prevailing profiles | 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). | FY | X-ray taken using computed radiography technology/cassette-based imaging | X5 | Diagnostic services requested by another clinician: for reporting services by a clinician who furnishes care to the patient only as requested by another clinician or subsequent and related services requested by another clinician; this modifier is reported for patient relationships that may not be adequately captured by the above alternative categories; reporting clinician service examples include but are not limited to, the radiologist's interpretation of an imaging study requested by another clinician | 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 | 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. | 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. | 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). | 77 | Repeat procedure by another physician or other qualified health care professional: it may be necessary to indicate that a basic procedure or service was repeated by another physician or other qualified health care professional subsequent to the original procedure or service. this circumstance may be reported by adding modifier 77 to the repeated procedure or service. note: this modifier should not be appended to an e/m service. | 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 | AQ | Physician providing a service in an unlisted health professional shortage area (hpsa) | 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 | XE | Separate encounter, a service that is distinct because it occurred during a separate encounter | GV | Attending physician not employed or paid under arrangement by the patient's hospice provider | X1 | Continuous/broad services: for reporting services by clinicians, who provide the principal care for a patient, with no planned endpoint of the relationship; services in this category represent comprehensive care, dealing with the entire scope of patient problems, either directly or in a care coordination role; reporting clinician service examples include, but are not limited to: primary care, and clinicians providing comprehensive care to patients in addition to specialty care | XS | Separate structure, a service that is distinct because it was performed on a separate organ/structure | 47 | Anesthesia by surgeon: regional or general anesthesia provided by the surgeon may be reported by adding modifier 47 to the basic service. (this does not include local anesthesia.) note: modifier 47 would not be used as a modifier for the anesthesia procedures. | 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. | 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.) | 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 | CC | Procedure code change (use 'cc' when the procedure code submitted was changed either for administrative reasons or because an incorrect code was filed) | CR | Catastrophe/disaster related | ET | Emergency services | F8 | Right hand, fourth digit | FX | X-ray taken using film | GA | Waiver of liability statement issued as required by payer policy, individual case | GX | Notice of liability issued, voluntary under payer policy | GY | Item or service statutorily excluded, does not meet the definition of any medicare benefit or, for non-medicare insurers, is not a contract benefit | GZ | Item or service expected to be denied as not reasonable and necessary | KX | Requirements specified in the medical policy have been met | LL | Lease/rental (use the 'll' modifier when dme equipment rental is to be applied against the purchase price) | MA | Ordering professional is not required to consult a clinical decision support mechanism due to service being rendered to a patient with a suspected or confirmed emergency medical condition | PC | Wrong surgery or other invasive procedure on patient | PD | Diagnostic or related non diagnostic item or service provided in a wholly owned or operated entity to a patient who is admitted as an inpatient within 3 days | Q1 | Routine clinical service provided in a clinical research study that is in an approved clinical research study | Q5 | Service furnished under a reciprocal billing 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 | QJ | Services/items provided to a prisoner or patient in state or local custody, however the state or local government, as applicable, meets the requirements in 42 cfr 411.4 (b) | SA | Nurse practitioner rendering service in collaboration with a physician | SG | Ambulatory surgical center (asc) facility service | T1 | Left foot, second digit | U1 | Medicaid level of care 1, as defined by each state | UD | Medicaid level of care 13, as defined by each state | X2 | Continuous/focused services: for reporting services by clinicians whose expertise is needed for the ongoing management of a chronic disease or a condition that needs to be managed and followed with no planned endpoint to the relationship; reporting clinician service examples include but are not limited to: a rheumatologist taking care of the patient's rheumatoid arthritis longitudinally but not providing general primary care services | XP | Separate practitioner, a service that is distinct because it was performed by a different practitioner | XU | Unusual non-overlapping service, the use of a service that is distinct because it does not overlap usual components of the main service |
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| 2009-01-01 | Changed | Code description changed |
| 2001-01-01 | Changed | Code description changed. |
| Pre-1990 | Added | Code added. |
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