Orthopedic Coding Alert

Question: What is a spontaneous hip dislocation, and how do you code surgeries for this injury?

Oregon Subscriber

Answer:  Spontaneous dislocations are, by their nature, typically congenital or pathological in patients. When your surgeon documents treatment of a closed hip dislocation, you’ll choose from the following CPT^® codes, depending on the specifics of the encounter:

• 27256 —  Treatment of spontaneous hip dislocation (developmental, including congenital or pathological), by abduction, splint or traction; without anesthesia, without manipulation
• 27257 — … with manipulation, requiring anesthesia
• 27258 — Open treatment of spontaneous hip dislocation (developmental, including congenital or pathological), replacement of femoral head in acetabulum (including tenotomy, etc).
• 27259 — … with femoral shaft shortening.