Current Procedural Terminology (CPT) codes serve as standardized identifiers for medical services and procedures. Maintained by the American Medical Association, these codes create a uniform language for communication between providers and payers. CPT 29881 is an identifier commonly used in orthopedic surgery to describe a specific knee procedure. Understanding its meaning is helpful for anyone undergoing arthroscopic knee surgery.
What CPT 29881 Represents
CPT 29881 is officially defined as: Arthroscopy, knee, surgical; with meniscectomy (medial OR lateral), including meniscal shaving and debridement/shaving of articular cartilage (chondroplasty) in the same or separate compartment(s), when performed. This code describes a minimally invasive surgical technique called arthroscopy, which allows a surgeon to see and work inside the knee joint using small instruments and a camera inserted through tiny incisions. The procedure’s main action is a meniscectomy, which involves the surgical removal of torn or damaged meniscus tissue.
The menisci are two crescent-shaped pieces of cartilage that act as shock absorbers and stabilizers between the thigh bone (femur) and the shin bone (tibia). The knee contains two menisci: the medial (inner) meniscus and the lateral (outer) meniscus. CPT 29881 specifically covers the meniscectomy of one compartment only, meaning the surgeon removed damaged tissue from either the medial OR the lateral meniscus.
The code also includes any necessary meniscal shaving or the debridement of articular cartilage, known as chondroplasty, performed in the same or a different knee compartment. The inclusion of these secondary clean-up procedures within the single code prevents them from being billed separately.
The Surgical Process and Recovery Expectations
The procedure described by CPT 29881 is typically performed on an outpatient basis, allowing the patient to return home the same day. Before the surgery, patients must fast for a period and will discuss anesthesia options, which can range from general anesthesia to a regional nerve block that numbs the leg. During the procedure, the surgeon makes two or three small incisions, often less than a centimeter long, around the knee to insert the arthroscope and surgical tools.
Sterile fluid is continuously pumped into the joint to inflate it slightly and provide a clear view for the surgeon, whose work is visualized on a monitor. The actual removal of the torn meniscus tissue is often a quick process, sometimes taking only about 30 minutes, though the total operating room time may be longer. The small incisions are then closed, sometimes with stitches or adhesive strips, and a sterile dressing is applied.
Immediate post-operative care focuses on managing pain and reducing swelling, typically with pain medication, elevation, and ice applied several times a day. Patients are encouraged to begin weight-bearing as tolerated right away, usually with the aid of crutches for the first few days, and to progress to walking without a limp quickly. Physical therapy is a fundamental component of recovery, often beginning within the first week or two, to restore range of motion and strength.
Recovery timelines vary based on the patient’s health and the extent of the tissue removed, but many patients can return to a desk job within three to five days. The gradual transition back to higher-impact activities and sports typically starts around four to six weeks post-surgery. Return to driving requires the ability to react quickly and safely, which can take one to three weeks, especially after right knee surgery.
Distinguishing This Code From Related Procedures
The specificity of CPT 29881 is rooted in differentiating the procedure based on the extent of the surgical intervention within the knee. Its primary distinction is the treatment of only one meniscal compartment—medial or lateral—as opposed to both. If the surgeon performs a meniscectomy on both the medial and lateral menisci during the same surgery on the same knee, the correct code is CPT 29880.
Another important difference lies in the type of intervention: removal versus repair. While CPT 29881 is for meniscectomy (removal), CPT 29882 is the corresponding code used when the surgeon performs an arthroscopic meniscal repair on one compartment. A repair procedure generally involves suturing the torn tissue back together, which often results in a significantly longer recovery and rehabilitation period compared to a simple meniscectomy.
For billing purposes, surgeons may use modifiers to provide additional context to the base code 29881. Modifier 50 is used to indicate a bilateral procedure if a meniscectomy is performed on both the right and left knees during the same session. Additionally, modifiers LT (Left Side) and RT (Right Side) are often appended to CPT 29881 to specify which knee was treated, ensuring accurate claims processing.