Orthopedic CPT Codes
Orthopedic CPT codes live in the Surgery section's Musculoskeletal subsection (20100–29999), running from a two-minute joint injection to a total knee replacement. The concept that shapes almost every orthopedic claim is the global surgical package: most procedures include 10 or 90 days of follow-up care in one payment, and billing inside that window without the right modifier is the specialty's most common denial.
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Orthopedics CPT codes
Joint Aspiration/Injection, Small Joint
Aspiration or injection of small joints (fingers, toes, wrist). Does not include imaging guidance.
Joint Aspiration/Injection, Intermediate Joint
Medium joints such as elbow, wrist, ankle, and temporomandibular joint.
Joint Aspiration/Injection, Major Joint or Bursa
Large joints (knee, hip, shoulder, sacroiliac) or major bursae. Highest reimbursement of the injection codes.
Total Knee Arthroplasty
Total knee replacement, one of the highest-volume orthopedic surgical procedures.
Total Hip Arthroplasty
Total hip replacement. 90-day global period applies.
Knee Arthroscopy with Meniscectomy
Arthroscopic partial meniscectomy, medial or lateral. Very high-volume orthopedic procedure.
Shoulder Arthroscopy with Rotator Cuff Repair
Arthroscopic repair of the rotator cuff. One of the most complex arthroscopic shoulder procedures.
Distal Radial Fracture, Closed Treatment
Closed treatment of distal radial fracture (wrist fracture) without manipulation.
Codes in blue have full detail pages with documentation requirements, billing mistakes, and FAQ.
Orthopedics billing notes
Most orthopedic surgeries carry a 10- or 90-day global package. Routine post-op care inside that window is already paid for. Billing it again gets denied, and doing it often gets audited.
Injection codes go by joint size: 20600 for small joints like fingers, 20605 for intermediate ones like the elbow or ankle, 20610 for major joints like the shoulder, hip, and knee. Ultrasound guidance adds 76942, but only when images are saved and a report is documented.
Diagnostic arthroscopy (29870) is bundled into any therapeutic arthroscopy done in the same joint. Scope in, look around, then repair? Bill the repair code alone.
Fracture care splits by open versus closed treatment and by location, and closed-treatment codes are packages that include the follow-up. Cast application bills separately in some situations, and casting supplies usually do.
For visits during a global period that aren't routine post-op, the modifier does the talking: 24 for an unrelated E&M, 79 for an unrelated procedure, 78 for a related return to the OR.
Frequently asked questions about orthopedics billing
What does the 90-day global period mean for orthopedic billing?▼
Payment for the surgery already includes 90 days of routine post-op care, so follow-up visits in that window can't be billed separately. Visits for unrelated problems can, with modifier 24, and a return to the OR for a related procedure takes modifier 78.
How do I pick between joint injection codes 20600, 20605, and 20610?▼
By joint size. 20600 covers small joints like fingers and toes, 20605 covers intermediate joints like the wrist, elbow, or ankle, and 20610 covers major joints: shoulder, hip, knee. Ultrasound guidance is billed separately with 76942 when it's documented with saved images.
Is fracture care billed as a package?▼
Usually, yes. Closed-treatment fracture codes like 25600 carry a 90-day global package covering the initial treatment and routine follow-up. Casting supplies bill separately, and if the patient came through the ED, the E&M visit that diagnosed the fracture is billable with modifier 57 or 25 depending on payer.
Sources
- Code set structure and updates: American Medical Association — CPT
- Fee schedule and component billing rules: CMS Medicare Physician Fee Schedule
- How we research and verify: our editorial policy
CPT® is a registered trademark of the American Medical Association. Content on this page is original educational writing, not a reproduction of AMA-copyrighted descriptions. Verify codes and payer rules before billing.