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The procedure described by CPT® Code 28232 refers to an open tenotomy of a single flexor tendon in the toe, classified as a separate procedure. A tenotomy is a surgical procedure that involves the incision of a tendon, which is a fibrous connective tissue that attaches muscle to bone. In this case, the focus is on the flexor tendon, which is responsible for bending the toe. The procedure begins with making an incision in the skin over the affected area of the foot or toe, allowing access to the underlying soft tissues. Once the incision is made, the surgeon carefully dissects the soft tissues to expose the flexor tendon that requires treatment. The tendon is then incised, effectively severing or releasing it to alleviate any tension or restriction that may be causing discomfort or functional impairment. To manage any bleeding that occurs during the procedure, electrocautery is utilized, which is a technique that uses electrical current to coagulate blood vessels. After the tendon has been successfully incised, the surgeon closes the operative wound in layers to promote proper healing and minimize complications. It is important to note that CPT® Code 28232 is specifically designated for the open tenotomy of a single toe tendon, distinguishing it from other related procedures, such as the open tenotomy of one or more flexor tendons of the foot, which is coded under CPT® Code 28230.
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The open tenotomy of a single flexor tendon in the toe, as described by CPT® Code 28232, is indicated for specific conditions that affect the function of the toe. These indications may include:
The procedure for an open tenotomy of a single flexor tendon in the toe involves several critical steps, which are outlined as follows:
After the completion of the open tenotomy procedure, patients can expect specific post-operative care and recovery considerations. The surgical site will require monitoring for signs of infection, and patients may be advised to keep the area clean and dry. Pain management may be necessary, and the physician may prescribe analgesics to alleviate discomfort. Patients are typically instructed on how to care for the incision site and may be advised to limit weight-bearing activities on the affected foot for a specified period to promote healing. Follow-up appointments will be necessary to assess the healing process and to determine when physical therapy or rehabilitation may be appropriate to restore function and strength to the toe.
| Short Descr | INCISION OF TOE TENDON | Medium Descr | TX OPEN TENDON FLEXOR TOE 1 TENDON SPX | Long Descr | Tenotomy, open, tendon flexor; toe, single tendon (separate procedure) | 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 | Hospital Part B services paid through a comprehensive APC | 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) | P5B - Ambulatory procedures - musculoskeletal | MUE | 6 | CCS Clinical Classification | 160 - Other therapeutic procedures on muscles and tendons |
| 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. | 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). | T7 | Right foot, third digit | T1 | Left foot, second digit | T6 | Right foot, second digit | T2 | Left foot, third digit | T3 | Left foot, fourth digit | T8 | Right foot, fourth digit | T9 | Right foot, fifth digit | 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.) | T4 | Left foot, fifth digit | XU | Unusual non-overlapping service, the use of a service that is distinct because it does not overlap usual components of the main service | RT | Right side (used to identify procedures performed on the right side of the body) | XS | Separate structure, a service that is distinct because it was performed on a separate organ/structure | AS | Physician assistant, nurse practitioner, or clinical nurse specialist services for assistant at surgery | T5 | Right foot, great toe | 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. | LT | Left side (used to identify procedures performed on the left side of the body) | SG | Ambulatory surgical center (asc) facility service | 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. | 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. | 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.) | 80 | Assistant surgeon: surgical assistant services may be identified by adding modifier 80 to the usual procedure number(s). | CC | Procedure code change (use 'cc' when the procedure code submitted was changed either for administrative reasons or because an incorrect code was filed) | 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 | F7 | Right hand, third digit | F8 | Right hand, fourth digit | F9 | Right hand, fifth digit | FA | Left hand, thumb | GA | Waiver of liability statement issued as required by payer policy, individual case | 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 | GZ | Item or service expected to be denied as not reasonable and necessary | KX | Requirements specified in the medical policy have been met | PO | Excepted service provided at an off-campus, outpatient, provider-based department of a hospital | Q6 | Service furnished under a fee-for-time compensation arrangement by a substitute physician or by a substitute physical therapist furnishing outpatient physical therapy services in a health professional shortage area, a medically underserved area, or a rural area | Q8 | Two class b findings | TA | Left foot, great toe | TL | Early intervention/individualized family service plan (ifsp) | 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 |
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