R974 – Bone transport - circular external fixation (greater than 6 cm)
OHIP Radiology Code — MUSCULOSKELETAL SYSTEM SURGICAL PROCEDURES · Schedule of Benefits
Code R974 is listed under 'N. Musculoskeletal System Surgical Procedures', specifically 'FIBULA AND TIBIA' -> 'Bone transport' with the description 'circular external fixation (greater than 6 cm)'. This procedure involves bone transport using circular external fixation for lengths greater than 6 cm. General rules for surgical procedures, including assistant and anaesthesia billing, apply as outlined in the General Preamble.
When to Use
- Use R974 for definitive circular external fixation procedures specifically involving bone transport of a tibial or fibular segment exceeding 6 cm.
- Select this code when the clinical objective is limb lengthening or bone defect reconstruction via distraction osteogenesis using a circular frame.
Common Pitfalls
- Do not bill R974 for standard fracture stabilization; it is restricted to bone transport procedures and will be rejected if used for routine external fixation.
- Avoid billing R974 in conjunction with other musculoskeletal surgical codes for the same anatomical site unless distinct, separate procedures are performed and documented to avoid 'unbundling' audits.
Billing Tips
- Ensure the operative report explicitly quantifies the transport distance as greater than 6 cm to support the use of R974 over lower-tier fixation codes.
- Apply age-based premiums (e.g., AGE_PREMIUM_5Y_16Y) to the R974 base fee if the patient meets the specific age criteria to maximize the claim value.
Effective: April 1, 2025
N. Musculoskeletal System Surgical Procedures
MUSCULOSKELETAL SYSTEM SURGICAL PROCEDURES
Surgical
Urogenital and Urinary Surgical Procedures
Ready to bill this code?
SnapBill makes OHIP billing simple — auto-filled codes, validation, and batch submission.