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The CPT® Code 24359 refers to a surgical procedure known as a tenotomy of the elbow, specifically targeting either the lateral or medial aspect, which is commonly associated with conditions such as lateral epicondylitis (tennis elbow) and medial epicondylitis (golfer's elbow). Lateral epicondylitis is characterized by pain on the outer side of the elbow, resulting from injury to the wrist extensors, which are the muscles responsible for lifting the hand. Conversely, medial epicondylitis involves pain on the inner side of the elbow due to injury to the wrist flexors, the muscles that facilitate hand movement downwards. During this procedure, an incision is made over the lateral or medial epicondyle, depending on the specific condition being treated. In cases of lateral tenotomy, the extensor carpi radialis brevis tendon, which connects the wrist extensors to the lateral epicondyle, is incised. For medial tenotomy, the common flexor tendon, which attaches the wrist flexors to the medial epicondyle, is incised. The procedure involves not only the tenotomy but also the debridement of soft tissue and/or bone, which is performed in an open manner. This includes the excision of degenerated tissue and the removal of soft tissue from the tendon insertion site at the epicondyle. Additionally, any bone spurs present may be excised, and multiple drill holes may be created in the affected epicondyle to facilitate healing. Importantly, CPT® Code 24359 is specifically used when the tenotomy is accompanied by an open tendon repair or reattachment. In this case, bone anchors are placed in the affected epicondyle, and the suture material from these anchors is threaded through the remaining portion of the affected tendon, allowing for the tendon to be securely reattached to the epicondyle. This comprehensive approach aims to alleviate pain and restore function in the elbow joint.
© Copyright 2025 Coding Ahead. All rights reserved.
The procedure described by CPT® Code 24359 is indicated for the treatment of conditions affecting the elbow, specifically:
The procedure involves several critical steps to ensure effective treatment of the affected elbow. The following outlines the procedural steps:
Post-procedure care typically involves monitoring the surgical site for signs of infection and ensuring proper healing. Patients may be advised to follow a rehabilitation program that includes physical therapy to restore strength and range of motion in the elbow. Pain management strategies may also be implemented to alleviate discomfort during the recovery process. The expected recovery time can vary based on individual factors and the extent of the procedure performed.
| Short Descr | REPAIR ELBOW DEB/ATTCH OPEN | Medium Descr | TNOT ELBOW LATERAL/MEDIAL DEBRIDE OPEN TDN RPR | Long Descr | Tenotomy, elbow, lateral or medial (eg, epicondylitis, tennis elbow, golfer's elbow); debridement, soft tissue and/or bone, open with tendon repair or reattachment | Status Code | Active Code | Global Days | 090 - Major Surgery | PC/TC Indicator (26, TC) | 0 - Physician Service Code | Multiple Procedures (51) | 2 - Standard payment adjustment rules for multiple procedures apply. | Bilateral Surgery (50) | 1 - 150% payment adjustment for bilateral procedures applies. | Physician Supervisions | 09 - Concept does not apply. | Assistant Surgeon (80, 82) | 0 - Payment restriction for assistants at surgery applies to this procedure... | Co-Surgeons (62) | 0 - Co-surgeons not permitted for this procedure. | Team Surgery (66) | 0 - Team surgeons not permitted for this procedure. | Diagnostic Imaging Family | 99 - Concept Does Not Apply | APC Status Indicator | Hospital Part B services paid through a comprehensive APC | ASC Payment Indicator | Non office-based surgical procedure added in CY 2008 or later; payment based on OPPS relative payment weight. | Type of Service (TOS) | 2 - Surgery | Berenson-Eggers TOS (BETOS) | P3D - Major procedure, orthopedic - other | MUE | 2 | CCS Clinical Classification | 162 - Other OR therapeutic procedures on joints |
| RT | Right side (used to identify procedures performed on the right side of the body) | LT | Left side (used to identify procedures performed on the left side of the body) | 59 | Distinct procedural service: under certain circumstances, it may be necessary to indicate that a procedure or service was distinct or independent from other non-e/m services performed on the same day. modifier 59 is used to identify procedures/services, other than e/m services, that are not normally reported together, but are appropriate under the circumstances. documentation must support a different session, different procedure or surgery, different site or organ system, separate incision/excision, separate lesion, or separate injury (or area of injury in extensive injuries) not ordinarily encountered or performed on the same day by the same individual. however, when another already established modifier is appropriate it should be used rather than modifier 59. only if no more descriptive modifier is available, and the use of modifier 59 best explains the circumstances, should modifier 59 be used. note: modifier 59 should not be appended to an e/m service. to report a separate and distinct e/m service with a non-e/m service performed on the same date, see modifier 25. | 22 | Increased procedural services: when the work required to provide a service is substantially greater than typically required, it may be identified by adding modifier 22 to the usual procedure code. documentation must support the substantial additional work and the reason for the additional work (ie, increased intensity, time, technical difficulty of procedure, severity of patient's condition, physical and mental effort required). note: this modifier should not be appended to an e/m service. | 51 | Multiple procedures: when multiple procedures, other than e/m services, physical medicine and rehabilitation services or provision of supplies (eg, vaccines), are performed at the same session by the same individual, the primary procedure or service may be reported as listed. the additional procedure(s) or service(s) may be identified by appending modifier 51 to the additional procedure or service code(s). note: this modifier should not be appended to designated "add-on" codes (see appendix d). | 58 | Staged or related procedure or service by the same physician or other qualified health care professional during the postoperative period: it may be necessary to indicate that the performance of a procedure or service during the postoperative period was: (a) planned or anticipated (staged); (b) more extensive than the original procedure; or (c) for therapy following a surgical procedure. this circumstance may be reported by adding modifier 58 to the staged or related procedure. note: for treatment of a problem that requires a return to the operating/procedure room (eg, unanticipated clinical condition), see modifier 78. | 76 | Repeat procedure or service by same physician or other qualified health care professional: it may be necessary to indicate that a procedure or service was repeated by the same physician or other qualified health care professional subsequent to the original procedure or service. this circumstance may be reported by adding modifier 76 to the repeated procedure or service. note: this modifier should not be appended to an e/m service. | 78 | Unplanned return to the operating/procedure room by the same physician or other qualified health care professional following initial procedure for a related procedure during the postoperative period: it may be necessary to indicate that another procedure was performed during the postoperative period of the initial procedure (unplanned procedure following initial procedure). when this procedure is related to the first, and requires the use of an operating/procedure room, it may be reported by adding modifier 78 to the related procedure. (for repeat procedures, see modifier 76.) | 79 | Unrelated procedure or service by the same physician or other qualified health care professional during the postoperative period: the individual may need to indicate that the performance of a procedure or service during the postoperative period was unrelated to the original procedure. this circumstance may be reported by using modifier 79. (for repeat procedures on the same day, see modifier 76.) | 80 | Assistant surgeon: surgical assistant services may be identified by adding modifier 80 to the usual procedure number(s). | 81 | Minimum assistant surgeon: minimum surgical assistant services are identified by adding modifier 81 to the usual procedure number. | 82 | Assistant surgeon (when qualified resident surgeon not available): the unavailability of a qualified resident surgeon is a prerequisite for use of modifier 82 appended to the usual procedure code number(s). | AS | Physician assistant, nurse practitioner, or clinical nurse specialist services for assistant at surgery | GC | This service has been performed in part by a resident under the direction of a teaching physician | SG | Ambulatory surgical center (asc) facility service | X4 | Episodic/focused services: for reporting services by clinicians who provide focused care on particular types of treatment limited to a defined period and circumstance; the patient has a problem, acute or chronic, that will be treated with surgery, radiation, or some other type of generally time-limited intervention; reporting clinician service examples include but are not limited to, the orthopedic surgeon performing a knee replacement and seeing the patient through the postoperative period | XS | Separate structure, a service that is distinct because it was performed on a separate organ/structure | XU | Unusual non-overlapping service, the use of a service that is distinct because it does not overlap usual components of the main service |
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| 2008-01-01 | Added | First appearance in code book in 2008. |
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