Find policies, billing codes, payers, states, and providers

CPT 25280: Tendon Length Adjustment/Repair, Forearm or Wrist

CPT code 25280 covers surgical adjustment of tendon length in the forearm or wrist to repair injury-related damage. This code identifies a specific tendon-lengthening or repair procedure used to restore functional alignment and relieve abnormal tension after trauma. Nationally, accurate coding for tendon repair procedures affects surgical case mix reporting, reimbursement, and quality measurement for upper-extremity trauma care.

Key payers discussed include Aetna, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Cigna, UnitedHealthcare, and Medicare. Readers will find a concise clinical context for the procedure, typical sites of service, and the range of payers relevant to coverage and billing. The publication summarizes common billing considerations, typical modifier usage where available, and high-level benchmarking and reimbursement themes for CPT code 25280.

This analysis provides clinicians, billing professionals, and policy analysts with an overview of the code’s clinical purpose, payer landscape, and the types of benchmarks and policy updates that influence payment and documentation practices. Data not available in the input is noted where applicable.

Customize your policy alerts

Sign up for cpt 25280 policy alerts

Get alerted when payer policies referencing 25280 are released or updated.

Monitor payer policy activity

Receive email alerts as soon as relevant payer policies are published or updated.

Billing Code Overview

CPT code 25280 describes a surgical procedure in which the provider adjusts the length of a tendon in the forearm or wrist to repair damage resulting from injury. This procedure is a tendon lengthening/repair technique performed to restore function, relieve tension, or correct deformity caused by traumatic injury to forearm or wrist tendons.

Service type: Surgical tendon repair/length adjustment
Typical site of service: Operating room or ambulatory surgical center, with procedure focused on the forearm or wrist

Explore openpayer tools

View all tools

Find policies, billing codes, payers, states, and providers

CPT 25280: Tendon Length Adjustment/Repair, Forearm or Wrist

Customize your policy alerts

Sign up for cpt 25280 policy alerts

Get alerted when payer policies referencing 25280 are released or updated.

Monitor payer policy activity

Receive email alerts as soon as relevant payer policies are published or updated.

Billing Code Overview

Service type: Surgical tendon repair/length adjustment
Typical site of service: Operating room or ambulatory surgical center, with procedure focused on the forearm or wrist

Clinical & Coding Specifications

Clinical Context

A 34-year-old right-handed construction worker presents to the orthopedic hand clinic after a laceration to the volar forearm sustained by broken glass three weeks earlier. He reports persistent weakness in wrist flexion and difficulty with fine hand motions despite initial wound care and rehabilitation. Physical exam demonstrates a shortened, adherent flexor tendon with limited excursion and a palpable scar at the wrist crease. Imaging and clinical assessment indicate tendon shortening requiring surgical lengthening to restore function.

The clinical workflow includes preoperative evaluation by the hand surgeon, informed consent, baseline neurovascular and tendon function documentation, and scheduling for operative tendon lengthening under regional or general anesthesia. Intraoperative steps typically include exposure of the affected tendon, assessment of tendon quality and degree of contracture, performance of a tendon lengthening (e.g., Z-plasty or fractional lengthening) to restore appropriate tension and excursion, and repair or reinforcement as needed. Postoperative care includes splinting, pain control, early supervised therapy, and follow-up visits for wound and functional assessment. Billing uses 25280 for the tendon lengthening procedure on a forearm or wrist tendon.

Coding Specifications

Modifier	Description	When to Use
`50`	Bilateral Procedure	Use when identical tendon lengthening is performed on both limbs during the same operative session.
`52`	Reduced Services	Use when the procedure is partially reduced or not completed as originally planned.
`53`	Discontinued Procedure	Use when the procedure is started but terminated due to extenuating circumstances.
`62`	Two Surgeons	Use when two surgeons work together as primary surgeons performing distinct portions of the procedure.
`63`	Procedure Performed on Infants Less Than 4 kg	Use when the patient meets size/age criteria and this modifier is required by payer policy.
`76`	Repeat Procedure by Same Physician	Use when the same physician repeats the procedure later in the global period.
`78`	Unplanned Return to the Operating Room for a Related Procedure by the Same Physician	Use when a return to the OR for a related tendon procedure is required during the global period.
`79`	Unrelated Procedure or Service by the Same Physician During the Postoperative Period	Use when an unrelated procedure is performed during the global period.
`LT`	Left Side	Use to identify procedures performed on the left forearm/wrist.
`RT`	Right Side	Use to identify procedures performed on the right forearm/wrist.
`59`	Distinct Procedural Service	Use when another procedure performed at the same encounter is distinct and separate from the tendon lengthening.
`22`	Increased Procedural Services	Use when work required is substantially greater than typically required.
`52`	Reduced Services	Use when service is partially reduced or not completed as planned.
`XS`	Separate Structure	Use when the same CPT is performed on a separate anatomical structure and payer requires modifier to indicate separate site.

Taxonomy Code	Specialty	Notes
207T00000X	Orthopaedic Surgery	Hand and wrist tendon procedures commonly performed by orthopedic hand surgeons.
207P00000X	Plastic Surgery	Plastic surgeons with hand specialization perform tendon reconstruction and lengthening.
2080P0208X	General Surgery - Hand Surgery	Surgeons focused on hand procedures providing repair and lengthening of tendons.
261QG0700X	Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation	Physicians who manage perioperative and postoperative rehabilitation, not primary operators.

Related Diagnoses

ICD-10 Code	Description	Clinical Relevance
`S56.011A`	Strain of flexor muscle, right forearm, initial encounter	Flexor tendon strain may lead to shortening or dysfunction requiring lengthening.
`S46.011A`	Strain of muscle, fascia and tendon of the long head of biceps, right arm, initial encounter	Proximal tendon injury can affect forearm tendon tension and require surgical adjustment.
`S61.001A`	Open wound of right wrist, initial encounter	Lacerations to the wrist can cause tendon injury and subsequent need for lengthening.
`M24.210`	Stiffness of joint, shoulder region	Joint stiffness proximal to the forearm can contribute to altered tendon mechanics; may be concomitant finding.
`M67.841`	Other specified synovitis and tenosynovitis, right upper extremity	Tenosynovitis can cause scarring and tendon shortening necessitating lengthening.

Related CPT Codes

CPT Code	Description	Relationship to This Procedure
`25447`	Repair, flexor tendon, forearm and/or wrist; primary repair	May be performed when primary tendon repair is required in conjunction with or instead of lengthening.
`25270`	Repair, tendon, flexor, forearm or wrist; secondary or subsequent procedure	Related when revision repair or secondary tendon work is required alongside lengthening.
`25000`	Fascia lata graft or tendon transplant (extensor or flexor) — grafting codes vary	May be needed if tendon substance is deficient and a graft or transfer is required after lengthening.
`20610`	Arthrocentesis, aspiration and/or injection; major joint or bursa (e.g., wrist)	Used when joint injection is performed for diagnostic or therapeutic purposes perioperatively.
`11042`	Debridement, subcutaneous tissue, first 20 sq cm or less	May be billed for wound debridement of scar tissue at the same operative session if applicable.

CPT 25260: Flexor Tendon Repair, Forearm or Wrist

CPT-25263-DELAYED-FLEXOR-TENDON-REPAIR-FOREARM-WRIST

CPT 25263: Delayed Repair of Flexor Tendon or Muscle, Forearm/Wrist

CPT-25265-FLEXOR-TENDON-MUSCLE-REPAIR-WITH-AUTOLOGOUS-GRAFT-DELAY

CPT 25265: Delayed Flexor Tendon/Muscle Repair with Autologous Graft

CPT-25270-EXTENSOR-TENDON-REPAIR-FOREARM-WRIST-ACUTE

CPT 25270: Repair of Extensor Tendon or Muscle, Forearm or Wrist

CPT-25272-DELAYED-EXTENSOR-TENDON-REPAIR-FOREARM-WRIST

CPT 25272: Delayed Extensor Tendon or Muscle Repair, Forearm/Wrist

CPT-25274-DELAYED-EXTENSOR-TENDON-REPAIR-WITH-AUTOLOGOUS-GRAFT

CPT 25274: Delayed Extensor Tendon/Muscle Repair with Autologous Graft

CPT-25275-EXTENSOR-TENDON-REPAIR-WRIST-FOREARM-GRAFT

CPT 25275: Extensor Tendon Repair of Forearm/Wrist with Tissue Graft

CPT-25290-FLEXOR-TENDON-RELEASE-FOREARM-WRIST-OPEN

CPT 25290: Open Flexor Tendon Release, Forearm or Wrist

CPT-25295-TENDON-ADHESION-RELEASE-FOREARM-WRIST

CPT 25295: Tendon Adhesion Release, Forearm or Wrist

CPT-25300-FLEXOR-TENDON-ANCHORING-WRIST-HAND

CPT 25300: Flexor Tendon Anchoring to Wrist Bone

Showing 1–10 of 53

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.

Trek Health ingests and normalizes Transparency in Coverage data and payer policy updates to give provider organizations a clear view of how commercial reimbursement behaves across markets, payers, and services. Our platform transforms raw payer disclosures into structured intelligence that supports contract evaluation, payer negotiations, and service line strategy. By combining market benchmarks with ongoing policy visibility, Trek helps teams identify variability, risk, and opportunity in commercial reimbursement. The result is faster insight, stronger negotiating positions, and more informed financial decisions.

Explore openpayer tools

View all tools

Clinical & Coding Specifications

Clinical Context

Coding Specifications

Modifier	Description	When to Use
`50`	Bilateral Procedure	Use when identical tendon lengthening is performed on both limbs during the same operative session.
`52`	Reduced Services	Use when the procedure is partially reduced or not completed as originally planned.
`53`	Discontinued Procedure	Use when the procedure is started but terminated due to extenuating circumstances.
`62`	Two Surgeons	Use when two surgeons work together as primary surgeons performing distinct portions of the procedure.
`63`	Procedure Performed on Infants Less Than 4 kg	Use when the patient meets size/age criteria and this modifier is required by payer policy.
`76`	Repeat Procedure by Same Physician	Use when the same physician repeats the procedure later in the global period.
`78`	Unplanned Return to the Operating Room for a Related Procedure by the Same Physician	Use when a return to the OR for a related tendon procedure is required during the global period.
`79`	Unrelated Procedure or Service by the Same Physician During the Postoperative Period	Use when an unrelated procedure is performed during the global period.
`LT`	Left Side	Use to identify procedures performed on the left forearm/wrist.
`RT`	Right Side	Use to identify procedures performed on the right forearm/wrist.
`59`	Distinct Procedural Service	Use when another procedure performed at the same encounter is distinct and separate from the tendon lengthening.
`22`	Increased Procedural Services	Use when work required is substantially greater than typically required.
`52`	Reduced Services	Use when service is partially reduced or not completed as planned.
`XS`	Separate Structure	Use when the same CPT is performed on a separate anatomical structure and payer requires modifier to indicate separate site.

Taxonomy Code	Specialty	Notes
207T00000X	Orthopaedic Surgery	Hand and wrist tendon procedures commonly performed by orthopedic hand surgeons.
207P00000X	Plastic Surgery	Plastic surgeons with hand specialization perform tendon reconstruction and lengthening.
2080P0208X	General Surgery - Hand Surgery	Surgeons focused on hand procedures providing repair and lengthening of tendons.
261QG0700X	Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation	Physicians who manage perioperative and postoperative rehabilitation, not primary operators.

Related Diagnoses

ICD-10 Code	Description	Clinical Relevance
`S56.011A`	Strain of flexor muscle, right forearm, initial encounter	Flexor tendon strain may lead to shortening or dysfunction requiring lengthening.
`S46.011A`	Strain of muscle, fascia and tendon of the long head of biceps, right arm, initial encounter	Proximal tendon injury can affect forearm tendon tension and require surgical adjustment.
`S61.001A`	Open wound of right wrist, initial encounter	Lacerations to the wrist can cause tendon injury and subsequent need for lengthening.
`M24.210`	Stiffness of joint, shoulder region	Joint stiffness proximal to the forearm can contribute to altered tendon mechanics; may be concomitant finding.
`M67.841`	Other specified synovitis and tenosynovitis, right upper extremity	Tenosynovitis can cause scarring and tendon shortening necessitating lengthening.

Related CPT Codes

CPT Code	Description	Relationship to This Procedure
`25447`	Repair, flexor tendon, forearm and/or wrist; primary repair	May be performed when primary tendon repair is required in conjunction with or instead of lengthening.
`25270`	Repair, tendon, flexor, forearm or wrist; secondary or subsequent procedure	Related when revision repair or secondary tendon work is required alongside lengthening.
`25000`	Fascia lata graft or tendon transplant (extensor or flexor) — grafting codes vary	May be needed if tendon substance is deficient and a graft or transfer is required after lengthening.
`20610`	Arthrocentesis, aspiration and/or injection; major joint or bursa (e.g., wrist)	Used when joint injection is performed for diagnostic or therapeutic purposes perioperatively.
`11042`	Debridement, subcutaneous tissue, first 20 sq cm or less	May be billed for wound debridement of scar tissue at the same operative session if applicable.

CPT 25260: Flexor Tendon Repair, Forearm or Wrist

CPT-25263-DELAYED-FLEXOR-TENDON-REPAIR-FOREARM-WRIST

CPT 25263: Delayed Repair of Flexor Tendon or Muscle, Forearm/Wrist

CPT-25265-FLEXOR-TENDON-MUSCLE-REPAIR-WITH-AUTOLOGOUS-GRAFT-DELAY

CPT 25265: Delayed Flexor Tendon/Muscle Repair with Autologous Graft

CPT-25270-EXTENSOR-TENDON-REPAIR-FOREARM-WRIST-ACUTE

CPT 25270: Repair of Extensor Tendon or Muscle, Forearm or Wrist

CPT-25272-DELAYED-EXTENSOR-TENDON-REPAIR-FOREARM-WRIST

CPT 25272: Delayed Extensor Tendon or Muscle Repair, Forearm/Wrist

CPT-25274-DELAYED-EXTENSOR-TENDON-REPAIR-WITH-AUTOLOGOUS-GRAFT

CPT 25274: Delayed Extensor Tendon/Muscle Repair with Autologous Graft

CPT-25275-EXTENSOR-TENDON-REPAIR-WRIST-FOREARM-GRAFT

CPT 25275: Extensor Tendon Repair of Forearm/Wrist with Tissue Graft

CPT-25290-FLEXOR-TENDON-RELEASE-FOREARM-WRIST-OPEN

CPT 25290: Open Flexor Tendon Release, Forearm or Wrist

CPT-25295-TENDON-ADHESION-RELEASE-FOREARM-WRIST

CPT 25295: Tendon Adhesion Release, Forearm or Wrist

CPT-25300-FLEXOR-TENDON-ANCHORING-WRIST-HAND

CPT 25300: Flexor Tendon Anchoring to Wrist Bone

Showing 1–10 of 53

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.

OpenPayer

CPT 25280: Tendon Length Adjustment/Repair, Forearm or Wrist

Sign up for cpt 25280 policy alerts

Billing Code Overview

OpenPayer

CPT 25280: Tendon Length Adjustment/Repair, Forearm or Wrist

Sign up for cpt 25280 policy alerts

Billing Code Overview

Clinical & Coding Specifications

Clinical Context

Coding Specifications

Related Diagnoses

Related CPT Codes

Related Codes

References

Clinical & Coding Specifications

Clinical Context

Coding Specifications

Related Diagnoses

Related CPT Codes

Related Codes

References

CPT 25280: Tendon Length Adjustment/Repair, Forearm or Wrist

Sign up for cpt 25280 policy alerts

Billing Code Overview

CPT 25280: Tendon Length Adjustment/Repair, Forearm or Wrist

Sign up for cpt 25280 policy alerts

Billing Code Overview

Clinical & Coding Specifications

Clinical Context

Coding Specifications

Related Diagnoses

Related CPT Codes

Related Codes

What clinical procedure and setting does CPT 25280 describe?

Which modifiers are commonly used with CPT 25280 and when are they applied?

What other CPT codes are commonly associated with procedures performed with or instead of 25280?

Which specialties and taxonomy codes commonly perform or manage care for CPT 25280?

Which payers are relevant for coverage and where can I find reimbursement specifics for CPT 25280?

References

Clinical & Coding Specifications

Clinical Context

Coding Specifications

Related Diagnoses

Related CPT Codes

Related Codes

What clinical procedure and setting does CPT 25280 describe?

Which modifiers are commonly used with CPT 25280 and when are they applied?

What other CPT codes are commonly associated with procedures performed with or instead of 25280?

Which specialties and taxonomy codes commonly perform or manage care for CPT 25280?

Which payers are relevant for coverage and where can I find reimbursement specifics for CPT 25280?

References