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

The International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision, Procedure Coding System (ICD-10-PCS) code group 0LJX includes procedures performed to inspect tendons in the upper body. These ICD-10-PCS codes are used for inpatient documentation when a clinician performs a visual or manual exploration of an upper tendon to evaluate integrity, diagnose pathology, or guide further treatment. Accurate coding within the ICD-10-PCS 0LJX group is essential for proper inpatient reimbursement, as it captures the procedure performed and supports clinical documentation accuracy.

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Upper Tendon Inspection Procedure Overview

This procedure group includes visually and/or manually exploring the upper tendon to inspect tendon integrity, look for tears, adhesions, or other pathology, and assess surrounding structures. These procedures target the tendons of the upper body and involve direct visualization or manual palpation without altering the tendon. Accurate coding of these inspection procedures is important for inpatient reimbursement because it documents the diagnostic evaluation performed and supports appropriate case mix assignment and payment.

Code Attributes

Character	ICD-10-PCS Category	Code Group Details
0	Section	Medical and Surgical
L	Body System	Tendons
J	Operation	Inspection
X	Body Part	Upper Tendon

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

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Upper Tendon Inspection Procedure Overview

Code Attributes

Character	ICD-10-PCS Category	Code Group Details
0	Section	Medical and Surgical
L	Body System	Tendons
J	Operation	Inspection
X	Body Part	Upper Tendon

When to Use

Use a code from this group when a clinician performs direct visualization or manual palpation of an upper tendon to identify tears, adhesions, inflammation, or other pathology. These codes are appropriate when the procedure is diagnostic in nature and does not include repair, reconstruction, or removal of the tendon.

ICD-10-PCS Codes

4 rows

ICD-10-PCS Code	Description
0LJX0ZZ	Inspection of Upper Tendon, Open Approach
0LJX3ZZ	Inspection of Upper Tendon, Percutaneous Approach
0LJX4ZZ	Inspection of Upper Tendon, Percutaneous Endoscopic Approach
0LJXXZZ	Inspection of Upper Tendon, External Approach

DRG Codes

9 rows

DRG Code	Description
513	Hand or Wrist Procedures, Except Major Thumb or Joint Procedures with CC/MCC
514	Hand or Wrist Procedures, Except Major Thumb or Joint Procedures without CC/MCC
906	Hand Procedures for Injuries
957	Other O.R. Procedures for Multiple Significant Trauma with MCC
958	Other O.R. Procedures for Multiple Significant Trauma with CC
959	Other O.R. Procedures for Multiple Significant Trauma without CC/MCC
987	Non-Extensive O.R. Procedures Unrelated to Principal Diagnosis with MCC
988	Non-Extensive O.R. Procedures Unrelated to Principal Diagnosis with CC
989	Non-Extensive O.R. Procedures Unrelated to Principal Diagnosis without CC/MCC

Typical Clinical Scenarios

An adult patient is admitted after a fall onto an outstretched hand with acute focal pain and palpable gap over the distal forearm near the wrist. Imaging is inconclusive for a partial versus complete tear of a flexor tendon, and the surgeon performs an open inspection of the affected upper tendon during exploration to directly visualize tendon integrity and determine need for repair. The procedure is diagnostic in nature and does not include tendon repair at that time. Typical codes: 0LJX0ZZ
A middle-aged patient with chronic wrist pain and limited finger flexion after previous distal radius fracture is scheduled for a planned operative evaluation. During the elective procedure the surgeon performs a percutaneous endoscopic inspection of the implicated upper tendon to assess for adhesions and tendon sheath pathology to guide further management without performing debridement or repair during the same encounter. The goal is diagnostic visualization of tendon condition under direct endoscopic view. Typical codes: 0LJX4ZZ
A patient with persistent pain and suspected recurrent scarring following a prior tendon release presents for inpatient assessment after conservative measures fail. The clinician performs a minimally invasive percutaneous inspection of the upper tendon to palpate and visually assess for recurrent adhesions or incomplete release, documenting the findings before planning further definitive therapy. No therapeutic alteration of the tendon is performed during this diagnostic exploration. Typical codes: 0LJX3ZZ

Related Codes

0LJY-LOWER-TENDON-INSPECTION

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

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

4 rows

ICD-10-PCS Code	Description
0LJX0ZZ	Inspection of Upper Tendon, Open Approach
0LJX3ZZ	Inspection of Upper Tendon, Percutaneous Approach
0LJX4ZZ	Inspection of Upper Tendon, Percutaneous Endoscopic Approach
0LJXXZZ	Inspection of Upper Tendon, External Approach

DRG Codes

9 rows

DRG Code	Description
513	Hand or Wrist Procedures, Except Major Thumb or Joint Procedures with CC/MCC
514	Hand or Wrist Procedures, Except Major Thumb or Joint Procedures without CC/MCC
906	Hand Procedures for Injuries
957	Other O.R. Procedures for Multiple Significant Trauma with MCC
958	Other O.R. Procedures for Multiple Significant Trauma with CC
959	Other O.R. Procedures for Multiple Significant Trauma without CC/MCC
987	Non-Extensive O.R. Procedures Unrelated to Principal Diagnosis with MCC
988	Non-Extensive O.R. Procedures Unrelated to Principal Diagnosis with CC
989	Non-Extensive O.R. Procedures Unrelated to Principal Diagnosis without CC/MCC

Typical Clinical Scenarios

An adult patient is admitted after a fall onto an outstretched hand with acute focal pain and palpable gap over the distal forearm near the wrist. Imaging is inconclusive for a partial versus complete tear of a flexor tendon, and the surgeon performs an open inspection of the affected upper tendon during exploration to directly visualize tendon integrity and determine need for repair. The procedure is diagnostic in nature and does not include tendon repair at that time. Typical codes: 0LJX0ZZ
A middle-aged patient with chronic wrist pain and limited finger flexion after previous distal radius fracture is scheduled for a planned operative evaluation. During the elective procedure the surgeon performs a percutaneous endoscopic inspection of the implicated upper tendon to assess for adhesions and tendon sheath pathology to guide further management without performing debridement or repair during the same encounter. The goal is diagnostic visualization of tendon condition under direct endoscopic view. Typical codes: 0LJX4ZZ
A patient with persistent pain and suspected recurrent scarring following a prior tendon release presents for inpatient assessment after conservative measures fail. The clinician performs a minimally invasive percutaneous inspection of the upper tendon to palpate and visually assess for recurrent adhesions or incomplete release, documenting the findings before planning further definitive therapy. No therapeutic alteration of the tendon is performed during this diagnostic exploration. Typical codes: 0LJX3ZZ

Related Codes

0LJY-LOWER-TENDON-INSPECTION

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

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 Upper Tendon: Procedure Code Group Overview

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

Upper Tendon Inspection Procedure Overview

Code Attributes

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

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

Upper Tendon Inspection 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 inspection of upper tendons?

What are the specific codes within the 0LJX group and their approaches?

What is the clinical intent of procedures in the Upper Tendon Inspection group?

How does accurate coding in the 0LJX group affect inpatient reimbursement?

Which DRGs are related to Upper Tendon inspection procedures?

References

When to Use

ICD-10-PCS Codes

DRG Codes

Typical Clinical Scenarios

Related Codes

Which ICD-10-PCS code group covers inspection of upper tendons?

What are the specific codes within the 0LJX group and their approaches?

What is the clinical intent of procedures in the Upper Tendon Inspection group?

How does accurate coding in the 0LJX group affect inpatient reimbursement?

Which DRGs are related to Upper Tendon inspection procedures?

References