ICD-10-PCS Code For Head And Neck Tendon: Procedure Code Group Overview

The International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision, Procedure Coding System (ICD-10-PCS) code group 0L90 includes procedures performed to drain fluids and/or gases from tendons in the head and neck. These ICD-10-PCS codes are used for inpatient documentation when a patient requires removal of accumulated fluid or gas from a head or neck tendon, such as evacuation of an abscess or decompression of a fluid collection. Accurate coding within the ICD-10-PCS 0L90 group is essential for proper inpatient reimbursement, as it captures the procedure performed and supports clinical documentation accuracy.

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Head And Neck Tendon Drainage Procedure Overview

Procedures in this group involve drainage of fluid or gas from head and neck tendons and target the tendons body system. These inpatient drainage procedures remove accumulated fluid collections to relieve symptoms or treat infection. Accurate ICD-10-PCS coding for head and neck tendon drainage is important for clinical documentation and appropriate inpatient reimbursement.

Code Attributes

Character	ICD-10-PCS Category	Code Group Details
0	Section	Medical and Surgical
L	Body System	Tendons
9	Operation	Drainage
0	Body Part	Head and Neck Tendon

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ICD-10-PCS Code For Head And Neck Tendon: Procedure Code Group Overview

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Head And Neck Tendon Drainage Procedure Overview

Code Attributes

Character	ICD-10-PCS Category	Code Group Details
0	Section	Medical and Surgical
L	Body System	Tendons
9	Operation	Drainage
0	Body Part	Head and Neck Tendon

When to Use

Use codes from this group when an inpatient procedure involves evacuating fluid or gas from a head or neck tendon, for example to treat an abscess or relieve pressure. Do not use these codes for drainage procedures targeting other body systems or non-tendon structures.

ICD-10-PCS Codes

9 rows

ICD-10-PCS Code	Description
0L9000Z	Drainage of Head and Neck Tendon with Drainage Device, Open Approach
0L900ZX	Drainage of Head and Neck Tendon, Open Approach, Diagnostic
0L900ZZ	Drainage of Head and Neck Tendon, Open Approach
0L9030Z	Drainage of Head and Neck Tendon with Drainage Device, Percutaneous Approach
0L903ZX	Drainage of Head and Neck Tendon, Percutaneous Approach, Diagnostic
0L903ZZ	Drainage of Head and Neck Tendon, Percutaneous Approach
0L9040Z	Drainage of Head and Neck Tendon with Drainage Device, Percutaneous Endoscopic Approach
0L904ZX	Drainage of Head and Neck Tendon, Percutaneous Endoscopic Approach, Diagnostic
0L904ZZ	Drainage of Head and Neck Tendon, Percutaneous Endoscopic Approach

DRG Codes

12 rows

DRG Code	Description
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
908	Other O.R. Procedures for Injuries with CC
909	Other O.R. Procedures for Injuries without CC/MCC
987	Non-Extensive O.R. Procedures Unrelated to Principal Diagnosis with MCC

Showing 1–10 of 12

Typical Clinical Scenarios

An adult patient presents to the emergency department with sudden onset severe neck swelling, erythema, and fluctuance after recent penetrating trauma to the anterior neck. Imaging and exam confirm an acute fluid collection within a tendon sheath of the neck with signs of impending compartmental compression and risk to airway structures, necessitating prompt operative evacuation. An open drainage with placement of a drain is performed to remove purulent fluid and allow continued postoperative drainage. Typical codes: 0L9000Z
A middle-aged patient admitted electively for drainage of a chronic, symptomatic tendon sheath fluid collection in the head and neck region that recurs despite conservative therapy. Under image guidance, a percutaneous approach is chosen to evacuate the fluid and place a drainage catheter to allow outpatient management and monitoring of the collection. The minimally invasive percutaneous drainage with device placement is selected to minimize tissue disruption. Typical codes: 0L9030Z
A patient previously treated for a neck tendon sheath abscess returns with persistent drainage and signs of inadequate source control after prior intervention. During inpatient reoperation, the team performs percutaneous endoscopic exploration and drainage to locate residual loculated fluid and place a drain to manage the persistent infection while preserving surrounding structures. This procedure addresses a complication of an earlier drainage attempt. Typical codes: 0L9040Z

Related Codes

0L91-SHOULDER-TENDON-DRAINAGE

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

0L92-LEFT-SHOULDER-TENDON-DRAINAGE

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

0L93-UPPER-ARM-TENDON-DRAINAGE

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

0L94-LEFT-UPPER-ARM-DRAINAGE

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

0L95-LOWER-ARM-AND-WRIST-DRAINAGE

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

0L96-LEFT-LOWER-ARM-DRAINAGE

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

0L97-RIGHT-HAND-TAKING-OR-LETTING-OUT-FLUIDS-HAND-TENDON-DRAINAGE

ICD-10-PCS Code For Hand Tendon: Procedure Code Group Overview

0L98-LEFT-HAND-TENDON-DRAINAGE

ICD-10-PCS Code For Left Hand Tendon: Procedure Code Group Overview

0L99-TRUNK-TENDON-DRAINAGE

ICD-10-PCS Code For Trunk Tendon: Procedure Code Group Overview

0L9B-TRUNK-TENDON-DRAINAGE

ICD-10-PCS Code For Trunk Tendon: 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

9 rows

ICD-10-PCS Code	Description
0L9000Z	Drainage of Head and Neck Tendon with Drainage Device, Open Approach
0L900ZX	Drainage of Head and Neck Tendon, Open Approach, Diagnostic
0L900ZZ	Drainage of Head and Neck Tendon, Open Approach
0L9030Z	Drainage of Head and Neck Tendon with Drainage Device, Percutaneous Approach
0L903ZX	Drainage of Head and Neck Tendon, Percutaneous Approach, Diagnostic
0L903ZZ	Drainage of Head and Neck Tendon, Percutaneous Approach
0L9040Z	Drainage of Head and Neck Tendon with Drainage Device, Percutaneous Endoscopic Approach
0L904ZX	Drainage of Head and Neck Tendon, Percutaneous Endoscopic Approach, Diagnostic
0L904ZZ	Drainage of Head and Neck Tendon, Percutaneous Endoscopic Approach

DRG Codes

12 rows

DRG Code	Description
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
908	Other O.R. Procedures for Injuries with CC
909	Other O.R. Procedures for Injuries without CC/MCC
987	Non-Extensive O.R. Procedures Unrelated to Principal Diagnosis with MCC

Showing 1–10 of 12

Typical Clinical Scenarios

An adult patient presents to the emergency department with sudden onset severe neck swelling, erythema, and fluctuance after recent penetrating trauma to the anterior neck. Imaging and exam confirm an acute fluid collection within a tendon sheath of the neck with signs of impending compartmental compression and risk to airway structures, necessitating prompt operative evacuation. An open drainage with placement of a drain is performed to remove purulent fluid and allow continued postoperative drainage. Typical codes: 0L9000Z
A middle-aged patient admitted electively for drainage of a chronic, symptomatic tendon sheath fluid collection in the head and neck region that recurs despite conservative therapy. Under image guidance, a percutaneous approach is chosen to evacuate the fluid and place a drainage catheter to allow outpatient management and monitoring of the collection. The minimally invasive percutaneous drainage with device placement is selected to minimize tissue disruption. Typical codes: 0L9030Z
A patient previously treated for a neck tendon sheath abscess returns with persistent drainage and signs of inadequate source control after prior intervention. During inpatient reoperation, the team performs percutaneous endoscopic exploration and drainage to locate residual loculated fluid and place a drain to manage the persistent infection while preserving surrounding structures. This procedure addresses a complication of an earlier drainage attempt. Typical codes: 0L9040Z

Related Codes

0L91-SHOULDER-TENDON-DRAINAGE

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

0L92-LEFT-SHOULDER-TENDON-DRAINAGE

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

0L93-UPPER-ARM-TENDON-DRAINAGE

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

0L94-LEFT-UPPER-ARM-DRAINAGE

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

0L95-LOWER-ARM-AND-WRIST-DRAINAGE

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

0L96-LEFT-LOWER-ARM-DRAINAGE

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

0L97-RIGHT-HAND-TAKING-OR-LETTING-OUT-FLUIDS-HAND-TENDON-DRAINAGE

ICD-10-PCS Code For Hand Tendon: Procedure Code Group Overview

0L98-LEFT-HAND-TENDON-DRAINAGE

ICD-10-PCS Code For Left Hand Tendon: Procedure Code Group Overview

0L99-TRUNK-TENDON-DRAINAGE

ICD-10-PCS Code For Trunk Tendon: Procedure Code Group Overview

0L9B-TRUNK-TENDON-DRAINAGE

ICD-10-PCS Code For Trunk Tendon: 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 Head And Neck Tendon: Procedure Code Group Overview

Sign up for ICD-10-PCS Code For Head And Neck Tendon: Procedure Code Group Overview policy alerts

Head And Neck Tendon Drainage Procedure Overview

Code Attributes

ICD-10-PCS Code For Head And Neck Tendon: Procedure Code Group Overview

Sign up for ICD-10-PCS Code For Head And Neck Tendon: Procedure Code Group Overview policy alerts

Head And Neck Tendon Drainage Procedure Overview

Code Attributes

When to Use

ICD-10-PCS Codes

DRG Codes

Typical Clinical Scenarios

Related Codes

Which ICD-10-PCS code group covers drainage of tendons in the head and neck?

What are the body system and operation attributes for the 0L90 code group?

Which specific procedure codes are included in the 0L90 group and how are approaches differentiated?

How does accurate coding within the 0L90 group affect inpatient documentation and reimbursement?

What related DRGs may be associated with procedures coded to the 0L90 group?

References

When to Use

ICD-10-PCS Codes

DRG Codes

Typical Clinical Scenarios

Related Codes

Which ICD-10-PCS code group covers drainage of tendons in the head and neck?

What are the body system and operation attributes for the 0L90 code group?

Which specific procedure codes are included in the 0L90 group and how are approaches differentiated?

How does accurate coding within the 0L90 group affect inpatient documentation and reimbursement?

What related DRGs may be associated with procedures coded to the 0L90 group?

References