Knee Replacement CPT Code: 27447, Partial, Revision and Arthroscopy Codes (2026)
By ClinicFlow Team
Total knee replacement is CPT 27447 (total knee arthroplasty). In the CY2026 CMS Physician Fee Schedule it carries 19.11 work RVUs and a 90-day global period. A partial (unicompartmental) knee replacement is 27446. Revisions are 27486 (one component) and 27487 (femoral and entire tibial component). There is no separate code for the right or left knee: the side goes on the RT or LT modifier and in the diagnosis code.
For practice managers: a knee replacement patient calls before surgery, after surgery and at 2 a.m. when the dressing looks wrong. To hear an AI receptionist handle those calls, dial our demo line at (415) 962-4019, or book a demo.
Knee arthroplasty CPT codes
| CPT code | What it is (plain language) | Work RVU | Global period |
|---|---|---|---|
| 27447 | Total knee replacement | 19.11 | 90 days |
| 27446 | Partial (unicompartmental) knee replacement | 16.70 | 90 days |
| 27486 | Revision of a total knee replacement, one component | 20.59 | 90 days |
| 27487 | Revision of a total knee replacement, femoral and entire tibial component | 26.43 | 90 days |
| 27488 | Removal of a knee prosthesis | 17.16 | 90 days |
Other common knee surgery CPT codes
| CPT code | What it is (plain language) | Work RVU | Global period |
|---|---|---|---|
| 29881 | Knee arthroscopy with removal of torn meniscus (one compartment) | 6.85 | 90 days |
| 29880 | Knee arthroscopy with removal of torn meniscus (both compartments) | 7.21 | 90 days |
| 29888 | Arthroscopic ACL reconstruction | 13.94 | 90 days |
| 20610 | Injection or aspiration of a major joint, such as the knee, without ultrasound guidance | 0.77 | 0 days |
For national Medicare payment amounts and all orthopedic regions in one place, see our orthopedic CPT codes list and the orthopedic wRVU table. To run a surgeon's own case mix, use the wRVU calculator.
Right knee, left knee, both knees
CPT knee replacement codes are not split by side. "CPT code for right knee replacement" and "left knee replacement" are both 27447; the claim shows the side with the RT or LT modifier. Payers set their own rules for reporting a bilateral procedure on the same day, so check the payer's policy before you bill one.
The side also lives in the diagnosis. The ICD-10-CM codes most often paired with 27447:
| ICD-10-CM | Description |
|---|---|
| M17.11 | Unilateral primary osteoarthritis, right knee |
| M17.12 | Unilateral primary osteoarthritis, left knee |
| M17.0 | Bilateral primary osteoarthritis of knee |
| M17.31 / M17.32 | Unilateral post-traumatic osteoarthritis, right / left knee |
More knee diagnoses are on our ICD-10 knee codes page.
What the 90-day global period means for your schedule
Every arthroplasty code above has a 90-day global period. Routine post-op visits in those 90 days are part of the surgical payment, so they are booked but not billed separately. That matters for the front desk: a post-op visit has to be booked as a post-op visit, with the right provider, inside the window. Our global periods guide covers what's in the package and what isn't.
After the global period, aftercare visits use the Z47 codes. See orthopedic aftercare ICD-10 codes for Z47.1 and the codes that go with it.
The calls a knee replacement brings
I'm a spine surgeon in Houston and co-founder of ClinicFlow. ClinicFlow doesn't code or bill. It answers the phone, and joint replacement patients call a lot: to schedule the consult, to move a pre-op visit, to ask about the post-op appointment, and at night when something worries them.
- Scheduling calls end booked. ClinicFlow books, reschedules and cancels directly in your EHR (Epic, athenahealth, eClinicalWorks, ModMed, AdvancedMD and other EHRs through HL7), following your providers' rules.
- Urgent calls after hours reach the surgeon on call by text or call, with a summary of the conversation.
- Emergencies go to 911. ClinicFlow never transfers an emergency call. It tells the caller to hang up and call 911 now.
- Your practice chooses which calls the AI takes, so your team keeps the ones they want.
See it with your own call types: book a demo and we'll show a post-op call booked into your EHR and an urgent after-hours call reaching the surgeon on call.
Sources
Work RVUs and global periods come from the public-domain CMS National Physician Fee Schedule Relative Value File, July 2026 release (RVU26C). Procedure descriptions are our own plain language, not the AMA's copyrighted CPT descriptors. ICD-10-CM descriptions are from the National Library of Medicine's ICD-10-CM data, checked October 21, 2026. Verify current values in the CMS Physician Fee Schedule lookup tool before you use them in a contract or compensation calculation.
FAQ
What is the CPT code for a total knee replacement? CPT 27447 is total knee arthroplasty, the standard total knee replacement. In the CY2026 CMS Physician Fee Schedule (July release, RVU26C) it carries 19.11 work RVUs and a 90-day global period.
What is the CPT code for a right knee replacement? The same code, 27447. CPT codes for knee replacement do not have a left or right version. The side is shown with the RT or LT modifier, and the diagnosis code carries it too, for example ICD-10 M17.11 (unilateral primary osteoarthritis, right knee) or M17.12 (left knee).
What is the CPT code for a partial knee replacement? CPT 27446 is a unicompartmental (partial) knee arthroplasty: 16.70 work RVUs and a 90-day global period in the CY2026 CMS Physician Fee Schedule.
What are the CPT codes for a knee replacement revision? CPT 27486 is a revision of one component of a total knee arthroplasty (20.59 work RVUs). CPT 27487 is a revision of the femoral and the entire tibial component (26.43 work RVUs). Both have a 90-day global period.
How many RVUs is a total knee replacement? CPT 27447 carries 19.11 work RVUs in the CY2026 CMS Physician Fee Schedule. National Medicare payment amounts for 27447 and other common orthopedic codes are on our orthopedic CPT codes list.
What ICD-10 code is used for aftercare after a knee replacement? Z47.1, aftercare following joint replacement surgery, usually with Z96.651 (presence of right artificial knee joint), Z96.652 (left) or Z96.653 (bilateral). Visits inside the 90-day global period are part of the surgical package.