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Official Description

Revision of total hip arthroplasty; both components, with or without autograft or allograft

© Copyright 2026 American Medical Association. All rights reserved.

Common Language Description

The CPT® Code 27134 refers to the procedure known as the revision of total hip arthroplasty, which involves both components of the hip joint. This procedure is typically indicated when a previously implanted total hip prosthesis has failed, necessitating a surgical intervention to replace or revise the existing components. The revision process includes several critical steps: the removal of the old implants, addressing any bony abnormalities that may have developed, and the implantation of new or revised total hip components. Additionally, bone grafting may be performed using either autograft (bone taken from the patient's own body) or allograft (bone taken from a donor). During the procedure, the surgeon makes an incision along the previous surgical site on the lateral aspect of the hip, allowing access to the underlying soft tissues. The dissection may require extensive soft tissue release due to scar tissue formation, which can involve partial release of the psoas tendon, gluteus maximus insertion, and the head of the rectus femoris muscle. Once the hip joint is accessed, the femoral head prosthesis is dislocated to expose the acetabular component. The revision process is meticulous, as it involves excising the pseudocapsule and removing the acetabular cup, followed by the careful extraction of the femoral component. The procedure may also involve the removal of any bone cement used in the initial surgery, and the surgical sites are thoroughly cleaned with saline and/or antibiotic solutions. The evaluation of the acetabulum and femoral shaft for bone loss is crucial, as it determines the need for bone grafting to ensure proper support for the new components. Ultimately, the revised total hip components are implanted, restoring function and stability to the hip joint.

© Copyright 2026 Coding Ahead. All rights reserved.

1. Indications

The revision of total hip arthroplasty (CPT® Code 27134) is indicated in the following scenarios:

  • Failed Total Hip Arthroplasty Revision is performed when the initial total hip replacement has failed, which may be due to various factors such as implant loosening, infection, or mechanical failure.
  • Bony Abnormalities The procedure is indicated when there are significant bony abnormalities that require correction to ensure proper alignment and stability of the new components.
  • Need for Component Replacement When either the acetabular or femoral components of the hip prosthesis require replacement due to wear, damage, or other complications, a revision procedure is necessary.

2. Procedure

The procedure for the revision of total hip arthroplasty involves several detailed steps:

  • Incision and Dissection The surgeon begins by making an incision over the previous surgical site along the lateral aspect of the hip. This incision allows access to the underlying soft tissues, which are carefully dissected to expose the hip joint. Extensive soft tissue release may be necessary due to scar tissue formation, which can include partial release of the psoas tendon, gluteus maximus insertion, and the head of the rectus femoris muscle.
  • Dislocation of the Hip Once the soft tissues are adequately released, the hip joint is dislocated to expose the femoral head prosthesis. This step is crucial for accessing the components that need to be revised.
  • Removal of the Acetabular Component The acetabular component is removed by excising the entire pseudocapsule surrounding it. The acetabular cup is then extracted, which may require careful manipulation to avoid damaging surrounding structures.
  • Removal of the Femoral Component To remove the femoral component, any trochanteric overhang is addressed using a high-speed burr, or alternatively, a trochanteric osteotomy may be performed. The proximal aspect of the femoral stem is cleared of any visible bone cement or bony overgrowth to facilitate removal.
  • Extraction of the Femoral Component Depending on the type of prosthesis, the femoral component may be removed using traction. In some cases, it may be necessary to sever fibrous or bony ingrowth into the prosthesis using flexible osteotomies or a small burr. Once sufficiently loosened, the femoral component is extracted.
  • Removal of Bone Cement If bone cement was used to secure the total hip components, it is removed from both the acetabulum and the femoral canal to prepare for the implantation of new components.
  • Evaluation and Grafting The surgical sites are flushed with saline and/or antibiotic solution. The acetabulum and femoral shaft are evaluated for any bone loss, and bone allografts and/or autografts are utilized as needed to reconstitute the bones.
  • Implantation of Revised Components Finally, the physician makes the necessary revisions to the total hip components, and the revised acetabular and femoral components are implanted to restore function to the hip joint.

3. Post-Procedure

Post-procedure care following the revision of total hip arthroplasty includes monitoring for any signs of complications such as infection or dislocation. Patients are typically advised on rehabilitation protocols to regain mobility and strength in the hip joint. Physical therapy may be initiated to assist in recovery, focusing on range of motion and strengthening exercises. The expected recovery period can vary based on the extent of the revision and the patient's overall health, but close follow-up with the surgical team is essential to ensure proper healing and function of the newly implanted components.

Short Descr REVISE HIP JOINT REPLACEMENT
Medium Descr REVJ TOT HIP ARTHRP BTH W/WO AGRFT/ALGRFT
Long Descr Revision of total hip arthroplasty; both components, with or without autograft or allograft
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) 1 - Co-surgeons could be paid, though supporting documentation is required...
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) P3B - Major procedure, orthopedic - Hip replacement
MUE 1
CCS Clinical Classification 153 - Hip replacement, total and partial

This is a primary code that can be used with these additional add-on codes.

20704 Add-on Code MPFS Status: Active Code APC N Manual preparation and insertion of drug-delivery device(s), intra-articular (List separately in addition to code for primary procedure)
20705 Add-on Code MPFS Status: Active Code APC N Removal of drug-delivery device(s), intra-articular (List separately in addition to code for primary procedure)
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
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).
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.)
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.
80 Assistant surgeon: surgical assistant services may be identified by adding modifier 80 to the usual procedure number(s).
GC This service has been performed in part by a resident under the direction of a teaching physician
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).
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.
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.
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).
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).
56 Preoperative management only: when 1 physician or other qualified health care professional performed the preoperative care and evaluation and another performed the surgical procedure, the preoperative component may be identified by adding modifier 56 to the usual procedure number.
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.
74 Discontinued out-patient hospital/ambulatory surgery center (asc) procedure after administration of anesthesia: due to extenuating circumstances or those that threaten the well being of the patient, the physician may terminate a surgical or diagnostic procedure after the administration of anesthesia (local, regional block(s), general) or after the procedure was started (incision made, intubation started, scope inserted, etc). under these circumstances, the procedure started but terminated can be reported by its usual procedure number and the addition of modifier 74. note: the elective cancellation of a service prior to the administration of anesthesia and/or surgical preparation of the patient should not be reported. for physician reporting of a discontinued procedure, see modifier 53.
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.
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.
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.)
81 Minimum assistant surgeon: minimum surgical assistant services are identified by adding modifier 81 to the usual procedure number.
AG Primary physician
AQ Physician providing a service in an unlisted health professional shortage area (hpsa)
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
GF Non-physician (e.g. nurse practitioner (np), certified registered nurse anesthetist (crna), certified registered nurse (crn), clinical nurse specialist (cns), physician assistant (pa)) services in a critical access hospital
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
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
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
SG Ambulatory surgical center (asc) facility service
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
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
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