27416 Osteochondral knee autograft
Also known as: osteochondral autograft, OATS, cartilage autografting, mosaicplasty
Surgical implantation of osteochondral autograft (patient's own tissue) harvested from non-weight-bearing knee areas and implanted into focal cartilage defects to restore joint surface.
In Plain Language
knee cartilage transplant from your own knee; cartilage-bone transplant
Clinical Context
Used for focal osteochondral lesions, single defects, or young patients with traumatic cartilage injuries. Limited by donor site availability.
RVU Breakdown
| Work RVU | 13.81 |
| Total RVU | 13.81 |
Est. Medicare Payment
National estimate based on 2026 CMS PFS Conversion Factor ($33.40). Actual payment varies by locality (GPCI adjustment).
Billing & Documentation
As a surgical CPT code, proper documentation must include the operative report detailing the procedure performed, patient positioning, approach, findings, and any complications. This code has a 90-day global period, which includes the day of the procedure, 1 day preoperative, and 90 days of postoperative care. Ensure the diagnosis code (ICD-10) supports medical necessity for the procedure.
How This Code Compares
With a work RVU of 13.81, this code ranks in the 70th percentile among Surgery codes — 1.7x the median (8.00). The highest wRVU in this category is 106.19.
Specialties
Frequently Asked Questions
What is CPT code 27416?
CPT 27416 (Osteochondral knee autograft) is a Surgery code. Surgical implantation of osteochondral autograft (patient's own tissue) harvested from non-weight-bearing knee areas and implanted into focal cartilage defects to restore joint surface.
What is the wRVU value for CPT 27416?
The work RVU for CPT 27416 is 13.81. This code is primarily used by Orthopedic Surgery, Sports Medicine, Joint Preservation. It has a 90-day global period.
When is CPT 27416 used?
Used for focal osteochondral lesions, single defects, or young patients with traumatic cartilage injuries. Limited by donor site availability.
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CPT® is a registered trademark of the American Medical Association. Data sourced from CMS Physician Fee Schedule RVU26A. Descriptions, synonyms, and clinical context are original content by RVU Edge.