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Official Description

Amputation, leg, through tibia and fibula; re-amputation

© Copyright 2026 American Medical Association. All rights reserved.

Common Language Description

Re-amputation of the leg through the tibia and fibula, as described by CPT® Code 27886, refers to a surgical procedure where a previously amputated leg is re-amputated at a higher level. This procedure is typically performed to remove diseased, infected, or nonviable tissue that poses a risk to the patient's health. Additionally, re-amputation may be necessary to create a healthy stump that can accommodate a prosthesis. The procedure involves careful planning and execution, beginning with the marking of incision lines on the skin to ensure precision. The surgical team incises the skin and underlying soft tissue, exposing the muscles, which are then isolated and divided by muscle group. During this process, nerves and blood vessels are meticulously identified and isolated to prevent any damage, particularly ensuring that nerves are separated from arteries to avoid pulsatile irritation. The nerves are transected and allowed to retract into the surrounding soft tissue, while blood vessels are ligated and transected to control bleeding. The tibia and fibula bones are then exposed, and periosteal flaps are created to facilitate the transection of these bones at the designated level. After the bones are cut, the periosteal flaps are sutured over the remaining bone ends, and antagonistic muscle groups are sutured together and anchored to the periosteum, ensuring that the remaining tibia and fibula are completely enveloped in muscle. Finally, skin flaps are fashioned and sutured over the muscle to complete the procedure, promoting optimal healing and preparing the site for potential prosthetic fitting.

© Copyright 2026 Coding Ahead. All rights reserved.

1. Indications

The re-amputation of the leg through the tibia and fibula is indicated in specific clinical scenarios where the integrity of the limb is compromised. The following conditions may warrant this procedure:

  • Disease The presence of disease in the limb that cannot be managed through conservative treatment methods.
  • Infection Severe infections that threaten the viability of the limb and cannot be resolved with antibiotics or other interventions.
  • Nonviable Tissue The existence of nonviable tissue that poses a risk of systemic infection or other complications.
  • Prosthetic Preparation The need to create a healthy stump that is suitable for the fitting of a prosthesis, enhancing the patient's mobility and quality of life.

2. Procedure

The procedure for re-amputation through the tibia and fibula involves several critical steps to ensure a successful outcome. Each step is performed with precision to minimize complications and promote healing.

  • Step 1: Marking Incision Lines The surgical team begins by marking the incision lines on the skin, which guides the subsequent surgical approach and ensures accuracy in the re-amputation site.
  • Step 2: Incision and Exposure An incision is made through the skin and underlying soft tissue to expose the muscles of the leg. This step is crucial for accessing the deeper structures that need to be addressed during the procedure.
  • Step 3: Muscle Isolation and Division The exposed muscles are isolated by muscle group and carefully divided. This allows for better access to the nerves and blood vessels that need to be managed during the surgery.
  • Step 4: Nerve and Blood Vessel Management Nerves and blood vessels are identified and isolated. It is essential to separate the nerves from the arteries to prevent any pulsatile irritation. The nerves are transected and allowed to retract into the soft tissue, while blood vessels are ligated and transected to control bleeding.
  • Step 5: Bone Exposure and Periosteal Flap Creation The tibia and fibula are exposed, and periosteal flaps are created to facilitate the transection of the bones at the appropriate level.
  • Step 6: Transection of Tibia and Fibula The tibia and fibula are transected at the level of the periosteal flaps, ensuring that the cut is clean and precise.
  • Step 7: Suturing of Flaps The periosteal flaps are sutured over the remaining ends of the tibia and fibula to promote healing and protect the bone.
  • Step 8: Muscle Group Suturing Antagonistic muscle groups are sutured to each other and anchored to the periosteum, ensuring that the remaining portion of the tibia and fibula is completely enveloped in muscle for optimal healing.
  • Step 9: Skin Flap Closure Finally, skin flaps are fashioned and sutured over the muscle to complete the procedure, providing coverage and protection to the surgical site.

3. Post-Procedure

After the re-amputation procedure, patients typically require careful monitoring and post-operative care to ensure proper healing. This may include pain management, wound care, and physical therapy to promote mobility and prepare for prosthetic fitting. The surgical site should be kept clean and dry, and any signs of infection or complications should be reported to the healthcare provider immediately. Follow-up appointments are essential to assess healing progress and to make any necessary adjustments to the treatment plan.

Short Descr AMPUTATION FOLLOW-UP SURGERY
Medium Descr AMP LEG THRU TIBIA&FIBULA RE-AMPUTATION
Long Descr Amputation, leg, through tibia and fibula; re-amputation
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) 1 - Statutory payment restriction for assistants at surgery applies 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) P3D - Major procedure, orthopedic - other
MUE 1
CCS Clinical Classification 157 - Amputation of lower extremity
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.
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)
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).
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).
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.
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.
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.
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).
AG Primary physician
AQ Physician providing a service in an unlisted health professional shortage area (hpsa)
AS Physician assistant, nurse practitioner, or clinical nurse specialist services for assistant at surgery
ET Emergency services
GC This service has been performed in part by a resident under the direction of a teaching physician
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
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
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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