Orthopedic Sports Medicine in the ASC: Arthroscopy CPT Codes

Orthopedic sports medicine covers the diagnosis and surgical repair of joint, ligament, tendon, and cartilage injuries, much of it done arthroscopically and well suited to the ambulatory surgery center setting. The core CPT family is the arthroscopy range, 29800 through 29889, spanning diagnostic and surgical arthroscopy across the knee, shoulder, and other joints. Common examples include 29881 (knee arthroscopy with medial or lateral meniscectomy) and 29827 (shoulder arthroscopy with rotator cuff repair).

Whether a specific code suits the ASC setting depends on its ASC-eligibility status, worth confirming before scheduling. Some codes are ASC-eligible and can be performed in a certified ambulatory surgery center, while others are typically done in a hospital outpatient department or office instead. The individual code pages linked from this hub indicate where each procedure falls.