Summary & Overview
CPT 0440T: Upper-Extremity Peripheral Nerve Cryoablation
Headline: New CPT code 0440T defines peripheral nerve cryoablation for upper-extremity neuropathic pain. Lead: CPT code 0440T captures cryoablation of a distal or peripheral nerve near the end of the upper extremity to treat complex regional pain syndrome and other neuropathies. The code standardizes reporting for an image-guided, peripherally targeted interventional pain procedure with growing clinical use.
CPT code 0440T represents a targeted, minimally invasive treatment option for refractory neuropathic pain by applying freezing temperatures to disrupt nerve conduction. Nationally, accurate coding matters for tracking utilization, coverage policy development, and aligning clinical practice with payer medical necessity frameworks. Key payers included in this analysis are Aetna, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Cigna Health, UnitedHealthcare, and Medicare.
Readers will learn what the code covers clinically, typical settings where the procedure is performed, and which national payers are relevant to coverage and claims processing. The publication provides benchmark-oriented content including utilization and reimbursement context where available, summaries of common billing considerations, and clinical context linking the code to indications such as complex regional pain syndrome and peripheral neuropathy. Data not available in the input is noted where applicable.
Billing Code Overview
CPT code 0440T describes a cryoablation procedure that uses freezing temperatures to destroy a distal or peripheral nerve near the end of the upper extremity. The intent of the procedure is treatment of complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS) or other peripheral neuropathic pain conditions.
Service type: Interventional pain management procedure (peripheral nerve cryoablation)
Typical site of service: Outpatient procedure setting, including ambulatory surgery centers or hospital outpatient departments, and specialty pain clinics equipped for image-guided peripheral nerve interventions.
Clinical & Coding Specifications
Clinical Context
A 45-year-old right-hand–dominant patient presents with persistent, severe neuropathic pain of the distal forearm and hand following a wrist fracture and subsequent complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS) Type II. Conservative therapy including physical therapy, oral neuropathic agents, and corticosteroid injection provided inadequate relief. The pain interferes with activities of daily living and sleep and localizes to branches of the superficial radial nerve and digital nerves. The interventional pain specialist evaluates the patient, documents a focused history and targeted sensory and motor exam, and confirms the painful peripheral nerve distribution with diagnostic local anesthetic block(s). After informed consent, the provider performs percutaneous cryoablation of the distal/peripheral nerve under sterile technique using imaging as needed, monitors vital signs, and provides post-procedure instructions and follow-up planning.
Coding Specifications
| Modifier | Description | When to Use |
|---|---|---|
22 | Increased procedural services | Use when work required to perform cryoablation is substantially greater than typically required (document rationale and additional work). |
51 | Multiple procedures |