ICD-10-PCS Code For Tongue Palate Pharynx Muscle: Procedure Code Group Overview

The International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision, Procedure Coding System (ICD-10-PCS) code group 0KQ4 includes procedures performed to repair muscles in the tongue, palate, and pharynx. These ICD-10-PCS codes are used for inpatient documentation when surgical restoration is performed to correct traumatic, congenital, or iatrogenic defects of the oral and pharyngeal muscles. Accurate coding within the ICD-10-PCS 0KQ4 group is essential for proper inpatient reimbursement, as it captures the restorative procedure performed and determines appropriate case mix and payment.

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Tongue, Palate, Pharynx Muscle Repair Procedure Overview

This procedure group includes repairs performed on muscles of the tongue, palate, and pharynx within the Muscles body system. Procedures restore, to the extent possible, normal anatomic structure and function of these oral and pharyngeal muscles. Accurate ICD-10-PCS coding of these repairs is important for inpatient reimbursement because it documents the specific restorative work performed and supports correct case mix assignment.

Code Attributes

Character	ICD-10-PCS Category	Code Group Details
0	Section	Medical and Surgical
K	Body System	Muscles
Q	Operation	Repair
4	Body Part	Tongue, Palate, Pharynx Muscle

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ICD-10-PCS Code For Tongue Palate Pharynx Muscle: Procedure Code Group Overview

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Tongue, Palate, Pharynx Muscle Repair Procedure Overview

Code Attributes

Character	ICD-10-PCS Category	Code Group Details
0	Section	Medical and Surgical
K	Body System	Muscles
Q	Operation	Repair
4	Body Part	Tongue, Palate, Pharynx Muscle

When to Use

Use a code from this group when a definitive repair of tongue, palate, or pharyngeal muscle tissue is performed during an inpatient stay. Select the specific ICD-10-PCS code that matches the repaired muscle and the documented repair technique.

ICD-10-PCS Codes

3 rows

ICD-10-PCS Code	Description
0KQ40ZZ	Repair Tongue, Palate, Pharynx Muscle, Open Approach
0KQ43ZZ	Repair Tongue, Palate, Pharynx Muscle, Percutaneous Approach
0KQ44ZZ	Repair Tongue, Palate, Pharynx Muscle, Percutaneous Endoscopic Approach

DRG Codes

18 rows

DRG Code	Description
040	Peripheral, Cranial Nerve and Other Nervous System Procedures with MCC
041	Peripheral, Cranial Nerve and Other Nervous System Procedures with CC or Peripheral Neurostimulator
042	Peripheral, Cranial Nerve and Other Nervous System Procedures without CC/MCC
500	Soft Tissue Procedures with MCC
501	Soft Tissue Procedures with CC
502	Soft Tissue Procedures without CC/MCC
579	Other Skin, Subcutaneous Tissue and Breast Procedures with MCC
580	Other Skin, Subcutaneous Tissue and Breast Procedures with CC
581	Other Skin, Subcutaneous Tissue and Breast Procedures without CC/MCC
907	Other O.R. Procedures for Injuries with MCC

Showing 1–10 of 18

Typical Clinical Scenarios

An adult presents to the emergency department after facial trauma from a motor vehicle collision with a laceration and partial avulsion of the anterior tongue muscles causing bleeding, impaired swallowing, and altered speech. Because the injury requires definitive restoration of muscle continuity and function under general anesthesia, the patient is admitted for surgical repair of the tongue musculature to restore anatomy and reduce aspiration risk. Typical codes: 0KQ40ZZ
A child with a congenital palatal muscle defect (velopharyngeal insufficiency) causing nasal regurgitation and speech hypernasality is scheduled for an inpatient corrective procedure to reconstruct and reapproximate the levator veli palatini muscle complex to improve velopharyngeal closure. This planned, elective admission is for definitive muscle repair to restore palatal function and optimize speech outcomes. Typical codes: 0KQ44ZZ, 0KQ40ZZ
An adult with chronic obstructive sleep apnea who previously had soft palate surgery returns with dehiscence and persistent dysfunction of palatal muscles, requiring revision repair during an inpatient stay to reapproximate and reconstruct the affected palatal muscle tissue. The operative intent is restorative repair of palatal musculature to re-establish anatomy and improve airway patency during sleep. Typical codes: 0KQ40ZZ, 0KQ43ZZ

Related Codes

0KQ0-HEAD-MUSCLE-REPAIR

ICD-10-PCS Code For Head Muscle: Procedure Code Group Overview

0KQ1-FACIAL-MUSCLE-REPAIR

ICD-10-PCS Code For Facial Muscle: Procedure Code Group Overview

0KQ2-NECK-MUSCLE-REPAIR

ICD-10-PCS Code For Neck Muscle Right: Procedure Code Group Overview

0KQ3-LEFT-NECK-MUSCLE-REPAIR

ICD-10-PCS Code For Left Neck Muscle: Procedure Code Group Overview

0KQ5-SHOULDER-MUSCLE-REPAIR

ICD-10-PCS Code For Shoulder Muscle Right: Procedure Code Group Overview

0KQ6-LEFT-SHOULDER-REPAIR

ICD-10-PCS Code For Shoulder Muscle, Left: Procedure Code Group Overview

0KQ7-UPPER-ARM-MUSCLE-REPAIR

ICD-10-PCS Code For Upper Arm Muscle: Procedure Code Group Overview

0KQ8-UPPER-ARM-MUSCLE-REPAIR

ICD-10-PCS Code For Upper Arm Muscle, Left: Procedure Code Group Overview

0KQ9-LOWER-ARM-AND-WRIST-MUSCLE-REPAIR

ICD-10-PCS Code For Lower Arm And Wrist Muscle: Procedure Code Group Overview

0KQB-LEFT-LOWER-ARM-REPAIR

ICD-10-PCS Code For Lower Arm And Wrist Muscle, Left: Procedure Code Group Overview

Showing 1–10 of 27

Frequently Asked Questions

References

1.CPT® Codes and Descriptions. AAPC. Retrieved Aug 11, 2026.Maintains the CPT code set's official descriptions and guidelines, licensed from the American Medical Association, used as the definitional source for CPT codes on this page.
2.HCPCS Quarterly Update. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). Retrieved Aug 11, 2026.CMS's quarterly release of HCPCS Level II codes and short/long descriptors, the source for HCPCS code definitions and update history.
3.ICD-10-CM Full Code List. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). Retrieved Aug 11, 2026.CMS's complete ICD-10-CM diagnosis code list, used to cross-reference diagnosis codes associated with this procedure or service.

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When to Use

ICD-10-PCS Codes

3 rows

ICD-10-PCS Code	Description
0KQ40ZZ	Repair Tongue, Palate, Pharynx Muscle, Open Approach
0KQ43ZZ	Repair Tongue, Palate, Pharynx Muscle, Percutaneous Approach
0KQ44ZZ	Repair Tongue, Palate, Pharynx Muscle, Percutaneous Endoscopic Approach

DRG Codes

18 rows

DRG Code	Description
040	Peripheral, Cranial Nerve and Other Nervous System Procedures with MCC
041	Peripheral, Cranial Nerve and Other Nervous System Procedures with CC or Peripheral Neurostimulator
042	Peripheral, Cranial Nerve and Other Nervous System Procedures without CC/MCC
500	Soft Tissue Procedures with MCC
501	Soft Tissue Procedures with CC
502	Soft Tissue Procedures without CC/MCC
579	Other Skin, Subcutaneous Tissue and Breast Procedures with MCC
580	Other Skin, Subcutaneous Tissue and Breast Procedures with CC
581	Other Skin, Subcutaneous Tissue and Breast Procedures without CC/MCC
907	Other O.R. Procedures for Injuries with MCC

Showing 1–10 of 18

Typical Clinical Scenarios

An adult presents to the emergency department after facial trauma from a motor vehicle collision with a laceration and partial avulsion of the anterior tongue muscles causing bleeding, impaired swallowing, and altered speech. Because the injury requires definitive restoration of muscle continuity and function under general anesthesia, the patient is admitted for surgical repair of the tongue musculature to restore anatomy and reduce aspiration risk. Typical codes: 0KQ40ZZ
A child with a congenital palatal muscle defect (velopharyngeal insufficiency) causing nasal regurgitation and speech hypernasality is scheduled for an inpatient corrective procedure to reconstruct and reapproximate the levator veli palatini muscle complex to improve velopharyngeal closure. This planned, elective admission is for definitive muscle repair to restore palatal function and optimize speech outcomes. Typical codes: 0KQ44ZZ, 0KQ40ZZ
An adult with chronic obstructive sleep apnea who previously had soft palate surgery returns with dehiscence and persistent dysfunction of palatal muscles, requiring revision repair during an inpatient stay to reapproximate and reconstruct the affected palatal muscle tissue. The operative intent is restorative repair of palatal musculature to re-establish anatomy and improve airway patency during sleep. Typical codes: 0KQ40ZZ, 0KQ43ZZ

Related Codes

0KQ0-HEAD-MUSCLE-REPAIR

ICD-10-PCS Code For Head Muscle: Procedure Code Group Overview

0KQ1-FACIAL-MUSCLE-REPAIR

ICD-10-PCS Code For Facial Muscle: Procedure Code Group Overview

0KQ2-NECK-MUSCLE-REPAIR

ICD-10-PCS Code For Neck Muscle Right: Procedure Code Group Overview

0KQ3-LEFT-NECK-MUSCLE-REPAIR

ICD-10-PCS Code For Left Neck Muscle: Procedure Code Group Overview

0KQ5-SHOULDER-MUSCLE-REPAIR

ICD-10-PCS Code For Shoulder Muscle Right: Procedure Code Group Overview

0KQ6-LEFT-SHOULDER-REPAIR

ICD-10-PCS Code For Shoulder Muscle, Left: Procedure Code Group Overview

0KQ7-UPPER-ARM-MUSCLE-REPAIR

ICD-10-PCS Code For Upper Arm Muscle: Procedure Code Group Overview

0KQ8-UPPER-ARM-MUSCLE-REPAIR

ICD-10-PCS Code For Upper Arm Muscle, Left: Procedure Code Group Overview

0KQ9-LOWER-ARM-AND-WRIST-MUSCLE-REPAIR

ICD-10-PCS Code For Lower Arm And Wrist Muscle: Procedure Code Group Overview

0KQB-LEFT-LOWER-ARM-REPAIR

ICD-10-PCS Code For Lower Arm And Wrist Muscle, Left: Procedure Code Group Overview

Showing 1–10 of 27

Frequently Asked Questions

References

1.CPT® Codes and Descriptions. AAPC. Retrieved Aug 11, 2026.Maintains the CPT code set's official descriptions and guidelines, licensed from the American Medical Association, used as the definitional source for CPT codes on this page.
2.HCPCS Quarterly Update. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). Retrieved Aug 11, 2026.CMS's quarterly release of HCPCS Level II codes and short/long descriptors, the source for HCPCS code definitions and update history.
3.ICD-10-CM Full Code List. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). Retrieved Aug 11, 2026.CMS's complete ICD-10-CM diagnosis code list, used to cross-reference diagnosis codes associated with this procedure or service.

Published by

Trek Health powers OpenPayer with a leading commercial payer intelligence platform, seamlessly converting fragmented payer data into actionable insights for provider organizations.

ICD-10-PCS Code For Tongue Palate Pharynx Muscle: Procedure Code Group Overview

Sign up for ICD-10-PCS Code For Tongue Palate Pharynx Muscle: Procedure Code Group Overview policy alerts

Tongue, Palate, Pharynx Muscle Repair Procedure Overview

Code Attributes

ICD-10-PCS Code For Tongue Palate Pharynx Muscle: Procedure Code Group Overview

Sign up for ICD-10-PCS Code For Tongue Palate Pharynx Muscle: Procedure Code Group Overview policy alerts

Tongue, Palate, Pharynx Muscle Repair Procedure Overview

Code Attributes

When to Use

ICD-10-PCS Codes

DRG Codes

Typical Clinical Scenarios

Related Codes

Which body system and operation does ICD-10-PCS code group `0KQ4` represent?

What specific codes are included in the `0KQ4` procedure group and what approaches do they represent?

Why is accurate coding of `0KQ4` procedures important for inpatient reimbursement?

Which DRG categories may be related when coding `0KQ4` repairs?

What types of clinical defects are these repairs intended to address according to the `0KQ4` group description?

References

When to Use

ICD-10-PCS Codes

DRG Codes

Typical Clinical Scenarios

Related Codes

Which body system and operation does ICD-10-PCS code group `0KQ4` represent?

What specific codes are included in the `0KQ4` procedure group and what approaches do they represent?

Why is accurate coding of `0KQ4` procedures important for inpatient reimbursement?

Which DRG categories may be related when coding `0KQ4` repairs?

What types of clinical defects are these repairs intended to address according to the `0KQ4` group description?

References