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    v1.0.30
    OpenPayerBilling CodesRepair, Revision, and/or Reconstruction Procedures on the Neck (Soft Tissues) and ThoraxCPT cpt-21725-sternocleidomastoid-release-for-torticollis
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    CPT 21725: Sternocleidomastoid Division for Torticollis

    Medicare pays $526 on average nationally for this procedure.

    CPT code 21725 describes surgical division of the sternocleidomastoid muscle to treat torticollis, with application of a neck cast to maintain position; this is a surgical procedure typically performed in an operating room or surgical suite under anesthesia for patients with severe congenital or acquired neck muscle contracture causing head tilt.

    For related coverage guidance, see recent payer policy updates: Surgical Procedures, Outpatient Surgical Procedures - Site of Service, Site of Service Ambulatory Service Center (ASC) Select — Surgical or Diagnostic Procedures in Adults.

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    Table of contents

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    Clinical & Coding Specifications

    Clinical Context

    A 6-month-old infant presents with persistent right-sided congenital muscular torticollis characterized by a head tilt to the right, limited left neck rotation, and a palpable tightness of the right sternocleidomastoid muscle despite 3 months of conservative management including stretching and physical therapy. After multidisciplinary evaluation by a pediatrician and pediatric orthopedic or pediatric otolaryngology specialist, the decision is made to perform a surgical release of the tight sternocleidomastoid muscle. The clinical workflow includes preoperative evaluation (history, focused neck exam, imaging if indicated), informed consent, general anesthesia, a transverse or longitudinal incision in the neck, division of the sternocleidomastoid tendon/muscle (selective bipolar or unipolar release as clinically indicated), hemostasis, and application of a cervical immobilization device or cast to maintain corrected head position. Postoperative care includes pain control, wound care, outpatient physical therapy for range-of-motion and strengthening, and follow-up visits to monitor alignment and healing. Typical sites of service are hospital operating room or ambulatory surgical center. The service type is surgical head/neck procedure for congenital muscular torticollis.

    Related CPT Codes

    CPT CodeDescriptionRelationship to This Procedure
    21725Division of sternocleidomastoid muscle; includes application of castPrimary procedure code for surgical release of the sternocleidomastoid for torticollis with postoperative immobilization.
    21320Tenotomy, tendon lengthening or transfer; muscle, open, muscle or tendon (not specific to neck)Related technique codes for soft-tissue releases or tendon procedures when additional lengthening or transfers are required.
    20550Injection; single tendon sheath, or ligament, aponeurosis (e.g., trigger point injection)May be used preoperatively for diagnostic or therapeutic injections when conservative treatment is attempted prior to surgery.
    11042Debridement, subcutaneous tissue (not typically for this procedure)Occasionally used if wound debridement is required during the surgical episode.
    99024Postoperative follow-up visit, global surgery package (not a CPT surgery code)Used for routine postoperative visits included in the global period; documents follow-up care after 21725.

    Related Modifiers

    10 rows

    ModifierDescriptionWhen to Use
    52Modifier ‑52 (Reduced Services) indicates that a service or procedure was partially reduced or omitted at the provider’s discretion, allowing reporting of the basic procedure number with a qualifier…- Use modifier -52 when a physician or qualified health professional electively reduces or omits part of a procedure or service (for example, performing fewer required views or omitting a portion of…
    53Modifier 53 (Discontinued Procedure) signals that a surgical or diagnostic service was begun by the physician but terminated because of extenuating circumstances that threatened the patient’s…- Use modifier -53 when a physician/qualified healthcare professional has started a surgical or diagnostic procedure (e.g., anesthesia administered, incision or scope insertion) and then discontinues…
    62Modifier 62 indicates that two surgeons function as co‑surgeons, each performing distinct parts of the same primary surgical procedure. It is appended to the primary procedure code (and any…- Use modifier -62 when two surgeons act as co‑surgeons (both primary surgeons) on a single definitive primary procedure, each performing distinct parts of the same surgical procedure (append -62 to…
    66Modifier 66 (Surgical Team) is used when three or more surgeons act as primary surgeons on a single, highly complex procedure. The AMA defines it for use when a surgical team — often composed of…- Use modifier 66 when three or more surgeons act as primary surgeons working collaboratively as a surgical team on a single, highly complex or difficult procedure (for example organ…
    76Modifier -76, Repeat Procedure or Service by Same Physician or Other Qualified Health Care Professional, is appended when the same provider performs an identical, medically necessary procedure or…- Use modifier -76 when the same physician or other qualified health care professional performs an identical procedure or service a second (or subsequent) time on the same date of service and the…
    78CPT modifier -78 indicates an unplanned, related return to the operating or procedure room by the same provider during the global postoperative period. It is appended when treatment for a…- Use modifier -78 when an unplanned, related complication during the original procedure’s global postoperative period requires the patient to return to a formal operating or procedure room and the…
    22Modifier –22 (Increased Procedural Services) is used when a reported procedure is substantially more extensive than normally required. The CPT Manual and CMS state it may be appended only when the…- When to use: Append modifier -22 to a procedural CPT code when the service performed is substantially more extensive than the usual service described by that code — i.e., the procedure required…
    23Modifier -23 (Unusual Anesthesia) is used on anesthesia service CPT codes when a procedure that normally requires no anesthesia or only local anesthesia must be performed under general anesthesia…- Use modifier -23 only on anesthesia CPT codes (00100–01999) when a procedure that normally requires no anesthesia or only local anesthesia must be performed under general anesthesia because of…
    26Modifier 26 (Professional Component) identifies and bills only the professional portion of a split service — the physician’s interpretation, report, and medical judgment — when the technical…- Use CPT Modifier -26 when you are billing only the professional component (PC) of a split‑bill eligible service—i.e., you performed the physician interpretation, medical judgment and prepared a…
    73Modifier 73 indicates a facility-level outpatient hospital or ASC procedure that was discontinued after the patient was prepared and taken to the procedure/operating room but before any anesthesia…- When to use: Apply CPT modifier 73 on the FACILITY (outpatient hospital or ASC) claim when the patient has been fully prepared and physically taken into the procedure/operating room but the…

    Related Provider Taxonomies

    8 rows

    Taxonomy Code
    207P00000X
    207X00000X
    253Z00000X
    2080P0203X
    106S00000X
    1835G0000X
    193400000X
    2470A2800X

    Related ICD-10-CM Codes

    23 rows

    ICD-10-CM CodeDescription
    F45.41Pain disorder exclusively related to psychological factors
    G24.3Spasmodic torticollis
    G24.9Dystonia, unspecified
    M25.611Stiffness of right shoulder, not elsewhere classified
    M25.612Stiffness of left shoulder, not elsewhere classified
    M43.6Torticollis
    M50.21Other cervical disc displacement, high cervical region
    M54.12Radiculopathy, cervical region
    M54.13Radiculopathy, cervicothoracic region
    M54.2Cervicalgia

    Showing 1–10 of 23

    Related Payer Policy Updates

    Specialty: General Surgery1 / 3

    10 rows

    PolicyPayerEffective Date
    Surgical ProceduresUnitedHealthcare2026-09-01
    Outpatient Surgical Procedures - Site of ServiceUnitedHealthcare2026-09-01
    Site of Service Ambulatory Service Center (ASC) Select — Surgical or Diagnostic Procedures in AdultsPremera Bluecross2026-09-01
    Site of Service Ambulatory Surgical Center (ASC) Select — Surgical or Diagnostic Procedures in AdultsPremera Bluecross2026-09-01
    Site of Service Ambulatory Service Center (ASC) SelectPremera Bluecross2026-09-01
    Site of Service Ambulatory Surgical Center (ASC) Select — Site of Service for Ambulatory Surgical Procedures (ASC Select)Premera Bluecross2026-09-01
    Site of Service Ambulatory Service Center (ASC) SelectPremera Bluecross2026-09-01
    Outpatient Surgical Procedures - Site of Servicesierra health and life2026-08-01
    Medical Necessity Guidelines — Inpatient Surgical CareMass General Brigham Health Plan2026-08-01
    Ambulatory Surgery Center (ASC) - Site of Care PolicyKaiser Permanente2026-08-01

    Related Codes

    CPT-21685-HYOID-SUSPENSION-FOR-AIRWAY-MANAGEMENT

    CPT 21685: Hyoid Suspension for Airway Support

    CPT-21700-SCALENUS-ANTICUS-MUSCLE-DIVISION-NECK-RELEASE

    CPT 21700: Scalenus Anticus Muscle Division, Neck Surgery

    CPT-21705-SCALENUS-ANTICUS-MUSCLE-DIVISION-CERVICAL-RIB-REMOVAL

    CPT 21705: Scalenus Anticus Division with Cervical Rib Removal

    CPT-21720-STERNOCLEIDOMASTOID-MUSCLE-RELEASE-TORTICOLLIS

    CPT 21720: Sternocleidomastoid Muscle Division for Torticollis

    CPT-21740-CHEST-WALL-RECONSTRUCTION-PECTUS-DEFORMITY-REPAIR

    CPT 21740: Chest Wall Reconstruction for Congenital Deformity

    CPT-21742-MINIMALLY-INVASIVE-CHEST-WALL-RECONSTRUCTION-PECTUS

    CPT 21742: Minimally Invasive Chest Wall Reconstruction

    CPT-21743-THORACOSCOPIC-CHEST-WALL-RECONSTRUCTION-PECTUS-REPAIR

    CPT 21743: Thoracoscopic Chest Wall Reconstruction

    CPT-21750-STERNAL-SEPARATION-CLOSURE-STERNAL-REPAIR

    CPT 21750: Closure of Sternal Separation

    Frequently Asked Questions

    References

    1. 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. 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. 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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