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Official Description

Suture of 1 nerve; median motor thenar

© Copyright 2025 American Medical Association. All rights reserved.

Common Language Description

The CPT® Code 64835 refers to the surgical procedure involving the suture of a single nerve, specifically the median motor nerve in the thenar region of the hand. This procedure is essential for repairing nerve injuries that may occur due to trauma or surgical complications. The median nerve is a critical nerve that controls movement and sensation in the hand, particularly in the thumb and first three fingers. The suture repair of the nerve, often termed end-to-end closure, is a meticulous process that can be performed using various techniques depending on the location and severity of the nerve injury. For injuries located further from the nerve's origin, an epineural closure technique is typically employed, where the outer layer of the nerve, known as the epineurium, is sutured to bring the two ends of the transected nerve together without applying tension. In contrast, for injuries closer to the nerve's origin, a perineural closure technique may be utilized, which involves exposing the individual fascicles of axons within the nerve. This method allows for a more precise alignment and suturing of the fascicles that share similar functions, ensuring optimal recovery of nerve function. The procedure is critical for restoring motor function and sensation, thereby improving the patient's quality of life following nerve injury.

© Copyright 2025 Coding Ahead. All rights reserved.

1. Indications

The procedure described by CPT® Code 64835 is indicated for the repair of a transected median motor nerve in the thenar region of the hand. This procedure is typically performed in the following scenarios:

  • Traumatic Nerve Injury Nerve damage resulting from accidents, lacerations, or other forms of trauma that disrupt the continuity of the median motor nerve.
  • Post-Surgical Complications Nerve injuries that may occur as a complication of surgical procedures in the hand or wrist, necessitating repair to restore function.
  • Neuropathy Conditions that lead to nerve damage, where surgical intervention is required to repair the affected nerve and alleviate symptoms.

2. Procedure

The procedure for suturing the median motor nerve involves several critical steps to ensure proper repair and restoration of nerve function. The following procedural steps are typically followed:

  • Step 1: Exposure of the Nerve The surgeon begins by making an incision to access the site of the nerve injury. Once the incision is made, the median motor nerve is carefully exposed to allow for direct visualization and manipulation.
  • Step 2: Identification of Nerve Ends After exposure, the two ends of the transected nerve are identified. This is crucial for determining the appropriate technique for suturing, whether it be epineural or perineural closure.
  • Step 3: Selection of Suturing Technique Depending on the location of the injury, the surgeon will choose between epineural closure for distal injuries or perineural closure for more proximal injuries. For epineural closure, sutures are placed in the epineurium of each nerve end to approximate them without tension. For perineural closure, the epineurium is retracted to expose the fascicles, which are then aligned and sutured together.
  • Step 4: Suturing of Fascicles In the case of perineural closure, the surgeon identifies fascicles that perform similar functions and sutures them together using a single suture through the perineurium. If necessary, additional sutures may be placed to maintain alignment and prevent rotation of the fascicles.
  • Step 5: Closure of the Nerve The closure process begins with suturing the deeper fascicles first, gradually moving towards the surface of the nerve until all structures are securely repaired. This layered approach helps to ensure the integrity of the nerve repair.

3. Post-Procedure

Following the suture of the median motor nerve, post-procedure care is essential for optimal recovery. Patients are typically monitored for any signs of complications, such as infection or improper healing. Rehabilitation may be recommended to restore function and strength in the affected hand. This may include physical therapy to improve mobility and dexterity. The expected recovery time can vary based on the extent of the injury and the success of the repair, but patients are generally advised to follow up with their healthcare provider to assess nerve function and overall healing progress.

Short Descr REPAIR OF HAND OR FOOT NERVE
Medium Descr SUTURE 1 NERVE MEDIAN MOTOR THENAR
Long Descr Suture of 1 nerve; median motor thenar
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) 2 - Payment restriction for assistants at surgery does not apply 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 Surgical procedure on ASC list in CY 2007; payment based on OPPS relative payment weight.
Type of Service (TOS) 2 - Surgery
Berenson-Eggers TOS (BETOS) P5E - Ambulatory procedures - other
MUE 1
CCS Clinical Classification 9 - Other OR therapeutic nervous system procedures

This is a primary code that can be used with these additional add-on codes.

0882T New Code for 2024 Add on code MPFS Status: Carrier Priced APC N ASC N1 Intraoperative therapeutic electrical stimulation of peripheral nerve to promote nerve regeneration, including lead placement and removal, upper extremity, minimum of 10 minutes; initial nerve (List separately in addition to code for primary procedure)
64837 Addon Code MPFS Status: Active Code APC N ASC N1 Illustration for Code Suture of each additional nerve, hand or foot (List separately in addition to code for primary procedure)
64872 Addon Code MPFS Status: Active Code APC N ASC N1 Illustration for Code Suture of nerve; requiring secondary or delayed suture (List separately in addition to code for primary neurorrhaphy)
64874 Addon Code MPFS Status: Active Code APC N ASC N1 Illustration for Code Suture of nerve; requiring extensive mobilization, or transposition of nerve (List separately in addition to code for nerve suture)
64876 Addon Code MPFS Status: Active Code APC N ASC N1 CPT Assistant Article Illustration for Code Suture of nerve; requiring shortening of bone of extremity (List separately in addition to code for nerve suture)
69990 Addon Code MPFS Status: Restricted APC N ASC N1 PUB 100 CPT Assistant Article 1Microsurgical techniques, requiring use of operating microscope (List separately in addition to code for primary procedure)
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).
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.
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.)
AS Physician assistant, nurse practitioner, or clinical nurse specialist services for assistant at surgery
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
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
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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2010-01-01 Changed Code description changed.
2008-01-01 Changed Code description changed.
Pre-1990 Added Code added.
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