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The CPT® Code 26750 refers to the closed treatment of a distal phalangeal fracture in either the finger or thumb, specifically when no manipulation of the fracture is required. This procedure is indicated for cases where a single distal phalangeal fracture is present and is classified as nondisplaced, meaning that the bone fragments have not moved out of their normal alignment. During the treatment, the healthcare provider will perform a thorough evaluation of the fracture, which includes obtaining radiographs to confirm the presence of the fracture and assess its characteristics. Additionally, a neurovascular examination is conducted to ensure that the nerves and blood vessels surrounding the injury are intact and functioning properly. Following the evaluation, the affected finger or thumb is immobilized using a splint to promote healing and prevent further injury. It is important to note that if multiple fractures are treated, each fracture must be reported separately. This code does not apply to cases where manipulation is necessary, as those would be reported under a different code, specifically CPT® Code 26755, which involves the manual reduction of displaced fractures.
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Distal Phalangeal Fracture The procedure is indicated for the treatment of a single distal phalangeal fracture of the finger or thumb that is nondisplaced. This type of fracture typically occurs due to trauma or injury to the fingertip, and the closed treatment is appropriate when the fracture fragments remain in their normal anatomical position.
Step 1: Evaluation and Radiographs The first step in the procedure involves a comprehensive evaluation of the injury. The healthcare provider will obtain radiographs, or X-rays, to confirm the presence of the distal phalangeal fracture. These imaging studies are crucial for assessing the fracture's characteristics and ensuring that it is indeed nondisplaced.
Step 2: Neurovascular Examination Following the radiographic evaluation, a neurovascular examination is performed. This examination is essential to assess the integrity of the nerves and blood vessels in the area surrounding the fracture. The provider will check for any signs of nerve damage or compromised blood flow, which could complicate the healing process.
Step 3: Closed Treatment and Immobilization Once the evaluation is complete and the fracture is confirmed as nondisplaced, the closed treatment can proceed. In this step, the affected finger or thumb is immobilized using a splint. The splint serves to stabilize the fracture and prevent movement, allowing for proper healing. It is important to ensure that the splint is applied correctly to maintain the anatomical position of the fracture throughout the recovery period.
After the closed treatment is completed, the patient will be advised on post-procedure care, which may include instructions on how to care for the splint and manage any discomfort. Follow-up appointments may be scheduled to monitor the healing process and to obtain additional radiographs if necessary. Patients should be informed about signs of complications, such as increased pain, swelling, or changes in sensation, which would require immediate medical attention. The expected recovery time will vary depending on the individual case, but immobilization is typically maintained until the fracture has healed adequately.
| Short Descr | TREAT FINGER FRACTURE EACH | Medium Descr | CLTX DSTL PHLNGL FX FNGR/THMB W/O MANJ EA | Long Descr | Closed treatment of distal phalangeal fracture, finger or thumb; without manipulation, each | 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) | 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 | Procedure or Service, Multiple Reduction Applies | ASC Payment Indicator | Office-based surgical procedure added to ASC list in CY 2008 or later with MPFS nonfacility PE RVUs; payment based on MPFS nonfacility PE RVUs. | Type of Service (TOS) | 2 - Surgery | Berenson-Eggers TOS (BETOS) | P6B - Minor procedures - musculoskeletal | MUE | 3 | CCS Clinical Classification | 148 - Other fracture and dislocation procedure |
| 54 | Surgical care only: when 1 physician or other qualified health care professional performs a surgical procedure and another provides preoperative and/or postoperative management, surgical services may be identified by adding modifier 54 to the usual procedure number. | FA | Left hand, thumb | F5 | Right hand, thumb | 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 | RT | Right side (used to identify procedures performed on the right side of the body) | F7 | Right hand, third digit | 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). | 55 | Postoperative management only: when 1 physician or other qualified health care professional performed the postoperative management and another performed the surgical procedure, the postoperative component may be identified by adding modifier 55 to the usual procedure number. | 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. | 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. | 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.) | AG | Primary physician | 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 | ER | Items and services furnished by a provider-based, off-campus emergency department | F1 | Left hand, second digit | F2 | Left hand, third digit | F3 | Left hand, fourth digit | F4 | Left hand, fifth digit | F6 | Right hand, second digit | F8 | Right hand, fourth digit | F9 | Right hand, fifth digit | GC | This service has been performed in part by a resident under the direction of a teaching physician | GV | Attending physician not employed or paid under arrangement by the patient's hospice provider | GW | Service not related to the hospice patient's terminal condition | LT | Left side (used to identify procedures performed on the left side of the body) | PN | Non-excepted service provided at an off-campus, outpatient, provider-based department of a hospital | PO | Excepted service provided at an off-campus, outpatient, provider-based department of a hospital | SA | Nurse practitioner rendering service in collaboration with a physician | T1 | Left foot, second digit | T3 | Left foot, fourth digit | T7 | Right foot, third digit | T9 | Right foot, fifth digit | TA | Left foot, great toe | X2 | Continuous/focused services: for reporting services by clinicians whose expertise is needed for the ongoing management of a chronic disease or a condition that needs to be managed and followed with no planned endpoint to the relationship; reporting clinician service examples include but are not limited to: a rheumatologist taking care of the patient's rheumatoid arthritis longitudinally but not providing general primary care services | 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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| 2011-01-01 | Changed | Short description changed. |
| Pre-1990 | Added | Code added. |
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