Fluidized Therapy (Fluidotherapy)

Number: 0450

Policy

Aetna considers fluidized therapy medically necessary for the treatment of acute or subacute traumatic or non-traumatic musculoskeletal disorders of the extremities.

Aetna considers fluidized therapy experimental and investigational for all other indications (e.g., carpal tunnel syndrome, and re-warming hypothermic subjects) because of insufficient evidence in the peer-reviewed literature for indications other than the ones listed above.

Notes: Fluidized therapy is considered to be a physical therapy modality subject to the physical therapy guidelines and any applicable plan benefit limits for physical therapy.

Aetna will cover only the professional charges of a physical therapist or other recognized, licensed providers for fluidized therapy and other physical therapy modalities that require direct, one-on-one, patient contact.  Please check benefit plan descriptions.

See also

Background

Fluidized therapy (Fluidotherapy) is a high-intensity heat modality consisting of a dry whirlpool of finely divided solid particles suspended in a heated air stream, the mixture having the properties of a liquid. In addition to the superficial heat, it provides tactile stimulation while also allowing for active range of motion.

Studies comparing its effective heating with that of a paraffin bath and whirlpool have found them to be similar. The indications for fluidized therapy are similar to paraffin baths and whirlpool.  Use of fluidized therapy dry heat is an acceptable alternative to other heat therapy modalities in reducing pain, edema, and muscle spasm from acute or subacute traumatic or non-traumatic musculoskeletal disorders of the extremities.  Fluidized therapy is contraindicated in patients with local sensory loss, open lesions, severe circulatory obstruction disorders (eg, arterial, lymphatic or venous disorders) or systemic infectious diseases.

The maximum duration of treatment is generally four weeks.

The Work Loss Data Institute's clinical practice guideline on "Carpal tunnel syndrome (acute & chronic)" (2011) listed fluidotherapy as one of the interventions/procedures that were considered, but are not currently recommended.

The Work Loss Data Institute's clinical practice guideline on "Forearm, wrist, & hand (acute & chronic), not including carpal tunnel syndrome" (2013) listed fluidotherapy as one of the interventions/procedures that were considered, but are not currently recommended.

Mild Hypothermia Re-Warming

Kumar and colleagues (2015) examined the effectiveness of fluidotherapy re-warming through the distal extremities for mildly hypothermic, vigorously shivering subjects. A total of 7 subjects (2 females) were cooled on 3 occasions in 8˚C water for 60 minutes, or to a core temperature of 35°C.  They were then dried and re-warmed in a seated position by
  1. shivering only;
  2. fluidotherapy applied to the distal extremities (46 ± 1°C, mean ± SD); or
  3. water immersion of the distal extremities (44 ± 1°C). 
The order of re-warming followed a balanced design.  Esophageal temperature, skin temperature, heart rate, oxygen consumption, and heat flux were measured.  The warm water produced the highest re-warming rate, 6.1°C/hour, 95 % confidence interval [CI]: 5.3 to 6.9, compared with fluidotherapy, 2.2°C/hour, 95 % CI: 1.4 to 3.0, and shivering only, 2.0°C/hour, 95 % CI: 1.2 to 2.8.  The fluidotherapy and warm water conditions increased skin temperature and inhibited shivering heat production, thus reducing metabolic heat production (166 ± 42 W and 181 ± 45 W, respectively), compared with shivering only (322 ± 142 W).  Warm water provided a significantly higher net heat gain (398.0 ± 52 W) than shivering only (288.4 ± 115 W).  The authors concluded that fluidotherapy was not as effective as warm water for re-warming mildly hypothermic subjects.  They stated that although fluidotherapy was more portable and technically simpler, it provided a lower rate of re-warming that was similar to shivering only.
Table: CPT Codes / HCPCS Codes / ICD-10 Codes
Code Code Description

Information in the [brackets] below has been added for clarification purposes.   Codes requiring a 7th character are represented by "+":

There is no specific code for fluidized therapy (fluidotherapy):

Other CPT codes related to the CPB:
97036 Application of a modality to one or more areas; Hubbard tank, each 15 minutes
97113 Therapeutic prodecure, one or more areas, each 15 minutes; aquatic therapy with therapeutic exercises

ICD-10 codes covered for indications listed in the CPB :
Too many to list

ICD-10 codes not covered for indications listed in the CPB (not all-inclusive):
G56.00 - G56.03 Carpal tunnel syndrome
T68.xxxA - T68.xxxS Hypothermia

The above policy is based on the following references:

  1. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Center for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). Fluidized therapy dry heat for certain musculoskeletal disorders. Medicare Coverage Issues Manual Section 35-56. Baltimore, MD: CMS; 2002.
  2. Ganz SB, Harris LL. General overview of rehabilitation of the rheumatoid patient. Rheum Dis North Am. 1998;24(1):181-201.
  3. Herrick RT, Herrick S. Fluidotherapy. Clinical applications and techniques. Ala Med. 1992;61(12):20-25.
  4. Borrell RM, Parker R, Henley EJ, et al. Comparison of in vivo temperatures produced by hydrotherapy, paraffin wax treatment, and Fluidotherapy. Phys Ther. 1980;60(10):1273-1276.
  5. Borrell RM, Henley EJ, Ho P, et al. Fluidotherapy: Evaluation of a new heat modality. Arch Phys Med Rehab. 1977;58(2):69-71.
  6. Gloth JM, Matesi AM. Physical therapy and exercise in pain management. Clin Geriatr Med. 2001;17(3):525-535, vii.
  7. Klein MJ. Superficial heat and cold. eMedicine Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Topic 201. Omaha, NE: eMedicine.com; updated December 16, 2004. Available at: http://www.emedicine.com/pmr/topic201.htm. Accessed July 10, 2005.
  8. Dorf E, Blue C, Smith BP, Koman LA. Therapy after injury to the hand. J Am Acad Orthop Surg. 2010;18(8):464-473.
  9. Work Loss Data Institute. Carpal tunnel syndrome (acute & chronic). Encinitas, CA: Work Loss Data Institute; May 7, 2013.
  10. Work Loss Data Institute. Forearm, wrist, & hand (acute & chronic), not including carpal tunnel syndrome. Encinitas, CA: Work Loss Data Institute; May 8, 2013. 
  11. Kumar P, McDonald GK, Chitkara R, et al. Comparison of distal limb warming with fluidotherapy and warm water immersion for mild hypothermia rewarming. Wilderness Environ Med. 2015;26(3):406-411.