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The CPT® Code 26125 refers to a surgical procedure known as a partial palmar fasciectomy, which involves the excision of thickened fascia in the palm and potentially the fingers. This procedure is specifically performed to address conditions such as Dupuytren's contracture, where the fascia in the palm becomes thickened and can lead to a flexion contracture of the fingers. During the surgery, a zigzag incision is typically made over the affected areas of the palm and fingers to allow for optimal access to the underlying structures. The surgeon elevates the skin and subcutaneous tissue to expose the palmar fascia and the pretendinous fascial cord. Careful dissection is performed at the metacarpal head to identify and protect the digital nerves and arteries adjacent to the tendon cords. The thickened fascia is progressively elevated from the proximal palm to the metacarpal head, and once fully freed from surrounding nerves and vessels, it is excised. This excision alleviates the flexion contracture by freeing the underlying tendon. Following the fasciectomy, the soft tissues in the palm are rearranged as necessary to cover and protect the underlying structures. The zigzag incision is then either closed directly or a skin graft may be harvested and utilized to close the surgical wound. It is important to note that this code is applicable for each additional digit from which the fascial cord is excised, and it is used in conjunction with other related codes for comprehensive billing and documentation purposes.
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The procedure described by CPT® Code 26125 is indicated for the treatment of conditions that involve thickened fascia in the palm and fingers, particularly in cases where there is a flexion contracture of the fingers. The following conditions may warrant this surgical intervention:
The procedure for CPT® Code 26125 involves several key steps that are crucial for the successful excision of the thickened fascia. The following outlines the procedural steps:
Post-procedure care following a fasciectomy includes monitoring for any signs of complications such as infection or excessive bleeding. Patients are typically advised to keep the surgical site clean and dry, and to follow specific wound care instructions provided by the surgeon. Rehabilitation may be necessary to restore function and mobility in the affected fingers, which may include physical therapy and exercises to improve range of motion. The expected recovery time can vary based on the extent of the procedure and the individual patient's healing process. Follow-up appointments are essential to assess healing and to determine if any additional interventions are required.
| Short Descr | RELEASE PALM CONTRACTURE | Medium Descr | FASCT PRTL PALMR ADDL DGT PROX IPHAL JT W/WO RPR | Long Descr | Fasciectomy, partial palmar with release of single digit including proximal interphalangeal joint, with or without Z-plasty, other local tissue rearrangement, or skin grafting (includes obtaining graft); each additional digit (List separately in addition to code for primary procedure) | Status Code | Active Code | Global Days | ZZZ - Code Related to Another Service | PC/TC Indicator (26, TC) | 0 - Physician Service Code | Multiple Procedures (51) | 0 - No payment adjustment rules for multiple procedures apply. | Bilateral Surgery (50) | 0 - 150% payment adjustment for bilateral procedures does NOT apply. | Physician Supervisions | 09 - Concept does not apply. | Assistant Surgeon (80, 82) | 1 - Statutory 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 | Items and Services Packaged into APC Rates | ASC Payment Indicator | Packaged service/item; no separate payment made. | Type of Service (TOS) | 2 - Surgery | Berenson-Eggers TOS (BETOS) | P3D - Major procedure, orthopedic - other | MUE | 4 | CCS Clinical Classification | 160 - Other therapeutic procedures on muscles and tendons |
This is an add-on code that must be used in conjunction with one of these primary codes.
| 26123 | MPFS Status: Active Code APC J1 ASC A2 CPT Assistant Article Illustration for Code Fasciectomy, partial palmar with release of single digit including proximal interphalangeal joint, with or without Z-plasty, other local tissue rearrangement, or skin grafting (includes obtaining graft); |
| F4 | Left hand, fifth digit | F8 | Right hand, fourth digit | F9 | Right hand, fifth digit | F3 | Left hand, fourth digit | LT | Left side (used to identify procedures performed on the left side of the body) | RT | Right side (used to identify procedures performed on the right side of the body) | SG | Ambulatory surgical center (asc) facility service | 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. | F2 | Left hand, third digit | 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. | 50 | Bilateral procedure: unless otherwise identified in the listings, bilateral procedures that are performed at the same session, should be identified by adding modifier 50 to the appropriate 5 digit code. note: this modifier should not be appended to designated "add-on" codes (see appendix d). | 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). | 52 | Reduced services: under certain circumstances a service or procedure is partially reduced or eliminated at the discretion of the physician or other qualified health care professional. under these circumstances the service provided can be identified by its usual procedure number and the addition of modifier 52, signifying that the service is reduced. this provides a means of reporting reduced services without disturbing the identification of the basic service. note: for hospital outpatient reporting of a previously scheduled procedure/service that is partially reduced or cancelled as a result of extenuating circumstances or those that threaten the well-being of the patient prior to or after administration of anesthesia, see modifiers 73 and 74 (see modifiers approved for asc hospital outpatient use). | 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). | 99 | Multiple modifiers: under certain circumstances 2 or more modifiers may be necessary to completely delineate a service. in such situations modifier 99 should be added to the basic procedure, and other applicable modifiers may be listed as part of the description of the service. | AQ | Physician providing a service in an unlisted health professional shortage area (hpsa) | AS | Physician assistant, nurse practitioner, or clinical nurse specialist services for assistant at surgery | CR | Catastrophe/disaster related | F1 | Left hand, second digit | F5 | Right hand, thumb | F6 | Right hand, second digit | F7 | Right hand, third digit | FA | Left hand, thumb | GC | This service has been performed in part by a resident under the direction of a teaching physician | GW | Service not related to the hospice patient's terminal condition | GZ | Item or service expected to be denied as not reasonable and necessary | QJ | Services/items provided to a prisoner or patient in state or local custody, however the state or local government, as applicable, meets the requirements in 42 cfr 411.4 (b) | T2 | Left foot, third digit | T5 | Right foot, great toe | T6 | Right foot, second digit | T7 | Right foot, third digit | T8 | Right foot, fourth digit | T9 | Right foot, fifth digit | 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 | XE | Separate encounter, a service that is distinct because it occurred during a separate encounter | 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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| 1990-01-01 | Added | First appearance in code book in 1990. |
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