Summary & Overview
CPT 24310: Open Tendon Release, Elbow and Upper Arm Contracture
CPT code 24310 denotes an open surgical tendon release performed through an incision over the elbow and upper arm to expose and incise the tendon and release a contracture. This procedure addresses functional limitation from tendon contracture and is relevant across surgical specialties managing upper-extremity mobility. Nationally, the code is used in operative documentation, claims processing, and clinical registry reporting for contracture-release procedures.
Key payers in the national landscape include Aetna, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Cigna Health, UnitedHealthcare, and Medicare. Readers will find an overview of clinical context for the procedure, common sites of service, and the scope of billing practice for this code. The publication summarizes how the code is applied in claims, highlights common modifiers and billing considerations (listed separately), and provides benchmarks and policy context where available.
This article is organized to give clinicians, billing professionals, and policy analysts a concise reference: a clinical description of the service, payer coverage landscape, coding considerations, and links to related policy or reimbursement updates when present. Data not available in the input will be noted in the relevant sections.
Billing Code Overview
CPT code 24310 describes a surgical procedure in which the provider makes an incision over the elbow and upper arm to expose and incise a tendon and release a contracture. This procedure is a surgical tendon release intended to relieve contracture-related restriction around the elbow and proximal forearm.
Service Type: Open surgical tendon release
Typical Site of Service: Operating room or ambulatory surgical center, with the incision localized to the elbow and upper arm region.
Clinical & Coding Specifications
Clinical Context
A 58-year-old patient presents with progressive elbow flexion contracture and painful limitation of extension due to a chronically shortened or fibrotic distal biceps or brachialis tendon following prior injury and conservative management failure. The patient reports decreased range of motion impacting activities of daily living and physical therapy has not restored functional extension. The orthopedic surgeon schedules an open tendon lengthening/release of the elbow and upper arm under regional block or general anesthesia.
Preoperative workflow includes focused history and exam, documentation of contracture severity and prior treatments, informed consent, preoperative imaging if indicated (plain radiographs; ultrasound or MRI if tendon pathology unclear), and anesthesia evaluation. Intraoperative steps: incision over the antecubital region and distal upper arm, careful dissection to identify the affected tendon and neurovascular structures, controlled incision or Z-lengthening of the tendon to release the contracture, hemostasis, possible repair or imbrication depending on findings, and layered closure with sterile dressing and immobilization.
Postoperative care includes pain control, wound checks, early protected range-of-motion per surgeon protocol, referral to hand/upper-extremity therapy, and documentation of operative findings and estimated blood loss. Typical follow-up documents progression of range of motion and any complications such as infection or nerve irritation.
Coding Specifications
| Modifier | Description | When to Use |
|---|---|---|
22 |