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CPT 25295: Tendon Adhesion Release, Forearm or Wrist

CPT code 25295 designates a surgical tendon adhesion release in the forearm or wrist performed to free a tendon from scar tissue or adhesions and restore normal movement. Nationally, this procedure addresses post-injury or post-surgical stiffness and functional limitation in the upper extremity and is relevant to hand surgeons, orthopedic surgeons, and rehabilitation teams managing tendon dysfunction. Key payers commonly involved in coverage decisions include Aetna, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Cigna Health, UnitedHealthcare, and Medicare. Readers will find a concise clinical framing of the procedure, common settings where the service is delivered, and an outline of payer coverage considerations and typical billing modifiers. The publication provides benchmarking context where available, summarizes policy and coding considerations that affect claim adjudication, and highlights clinical circumstances that commonly justify the procedure. Data not available in the input is clearly identified where applicable.

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Billing Code Overview

CPT code 25295 describes a surgical procedure in which the provider frees a tendon in the forearm or wrist from adhesions or scar tissue resulting from a prior surgery or injury to restore normal movement. This procedure is focused on releasing tendon adhesions to improve tendon gliding and joint function.

Service type: Surgical tendon adhesion release
Typical site of service: Operating room, ambulatory surgery center, or hospital outpatient setting

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CPT 25295: Tendon Adhesion Release, Forearm or Wrist

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Billing Code Overview

Service type: Surgical tendon adhesion release
Typical site of service: Operating room, ambulatory surgery center, or hospital outpatient setting

Clinical & Coding Specifications

Clinical Context

A 45-year-old right-hand dominant patient presents with limited wrist and finger tendon excursion months after a distal radius fracture and surgical fixation. Conservative management including physical therapy and splinting failed to restore active range of motion. Examination demonstrates painful, restricted flexion and extension of the wrist and digits consistent with peritendinous adhesions. Preoperative imaging and clinical exam localize adhesions to the flexor tendons in the volar wrist and distal forearm. The surgical plan is operative exploration with release of tendon adhesions to restore gliding and improve range of motion under regional or general anesthesia. Typical workflow includes preoperative evaluation and informed consent, operative time in an ambulatory surgery center or hospital outpatient department, intraoperative identification and careful lysis of adhesions (occasionally with tenolysis of individual tendons), hemostasis, wound closure, and immediate postoperative splinting followed by early hand therapy to maintain gains in motion.

Coding Specifications

Modifier	Description	When to Use
`22`	Increased procedural services	Use when work, time, or intensity substantially exceeds typical for `25295` and documentation supports additional work.
`23`	Unusual anesthesia	Use when a procedure usually done with local/regional anesthesia requires general anesthesia for medically necessary reasons.
`50`	Bilateral procedure	Use when identical procedure `25295` is performed bilaterally during the same operative session.
`51`	Multiple procedures	Use when `25295` is performed in the same operative session with other distinct procedures; report `25295` with modifier `51` per payer rules.
`52`	Reduced services	Use when `25295` is partially reduced or not completed as planned and documentation explains the reduction.
`53`	Discontinued procedure	Use when `25295` is started but discontinued due to extenuating circumstances; document reason.
`54`	Surgical care only	Use when reporting only the surgeon’s operative portion separate from pre/postoperative care.
`55`	Postoperative management only	Use when reporting only postoperative follow-up and not the operative service.
`62`	Two surgeons	Use when two surgeons of different specialties perform distinct portions of `25295` requiring documentation of each surgeon’s work.
`76`	Repeat procedure by same physician	Use when `25295` is repeated by the same physician within the global period.
`77`	Repeat procedure by another physician	Use when `25295` is repeated by a different physician within the global period.
`79`	Unrelated procedure or service by the same physician during the global period	Use when `25295` is performed for an unrelated condition during the global period of a prior procedure.
`LT`	Left side	Use to indicate procedure `25295` performed on the left side.
`RT`	Right side	Use to indicate procedure `25295` performed on the right side.

Taxonomy Code	Specialty	Notes
208U00000X	Orthopaedic Surgery	Hand and wrist tendon procedures commonly performed by orthopedic surgeons with hand fellowship training.
207X00000X	Plastic Surgery	Hand surgeons in plastic surgery perform tenolysis and complex soft-tissue reconstruction.
2080P0222X	Orthopaedic Hand Surgery	Subspecialty taxonomy for surgeons focusing on hand and upper extremity procedures.
208000000X	General Orthopaedics	Orthopaedic surgeons in community settings may perform tenolysis of forearm/wrist tendons.
163WC0000X	Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation	May be involved in perioperative management and postoperative therapy coordination.

Related Diagnoses

ICD-10 Code	Description	Clinical Relevance
Data not available in the input.	Data not available in the input.	Data not available in the input.

Related CPT Codes

CPT Code	Description	Relationship to This Procedure
`25295`	Tenolysis; forearm and/or wrist (release of tendon from adhesions)	Primary procedure — release of tendon adhesions to restore motion.
`26010`	Tenolysis, flexor tendon; single tendon	Used when tenolysis is limited to a single flexor tendon in the finger or hand during the same operative episode.
`26121`	Tenolysis, extensor tendon; single tendon, each	Performed when an extensor tendon adhesion in the wrist/hand requires separate tenolysis.
`64718`	Neuroplasty and/or transposition; major peripheral nerve, arm or leg (eg, ulnar nerve at elbow)	Performed when concomitant nerve adhesion or entrapment is addressed at the same operative setting.
`20610`	Arthrocentesis, aspiration and/or injection, major joint or bursa (eg, wrist)	May be used preoperatively or postoperatively for diagnostic or therapeutic injections related to stiffness or inflammation.
`29848`	Arthroscopy, wrist, surgical; limited	Used when wrist arthroscopy is performed for diagnosis or debridement in conjunction with open tenolysis.

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-25280-FOREARM-WRIST-TENDON-LENGTH-ADJUSTMENT-REPAIR

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

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

CPT 25290: Open Flexor Tendon Release, Forearm or Wrist

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

CPT 25300: Flexor Tendon Anchoring to Wrist Bone

Showing 1–10 of 53

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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Clinical & Coding Specifications

Clinical Context

Coding Specifications

Modifier	Description	When to Use
`22`	Increased procedural services	Use when work, time, or intensity substantially exceeds typical for `25295` and documentation supports additional work.
`23`	Unusual anesthesia	Use when a procedure usually done with local/regional anesthesia requires general anesthesia for medically necessary reasons.
`50`	Bilateral procedure	Use when identical procedure `25295` is performed bilaterally during the same operative session.
`51`	Multiple procedures	Use when `25295` is performed in the same operative session with other distinct procedures; report `25295` with modifier `51` per payer rules.
`52`	Reduced services	Use when `25295` is partially reduced or not completed as planned and documentation explains the reduction.
`53`	Discontinued procedure	Use when `25295` is started but discontinued due to extenuating circumstances; document reason.
`54`	Surgical care only	Use when reporting only the surgeon’s operative portion separate from pre/postoperative care.
`55`	Postoperative management only	Use when reporting only postoperative follow-up and not the operative service.
`62`	Two surgeons	Use when two surgeons of different specialties perform distinct portions of `25295` requiring documentation of each surgeon’s work.
`76`	Repeat procedure by same physician	Use when `25295` is repeated by the same physician within the global period.
`77`	Repeat procedure by another physician	Use when `25295` is repeated by a different physician within the global period.
`79`	Unrelated procedure or service by the same physician during the global period	Use when `25295` is performed for an unrelated condition during the global period of a prior procedure.
`LT`	Left side	Use to indicate procedure `25295` performed on the left side.
`RT`	Right side	Use to indicate procedure `25295` performed on the right side.

Taxonomy Code	Specialty	Notes
208U00000X	Orthopaedic Surgery	Hand and wrist tendon procedures commonly performed by orthopedic surgeons with hand fellowship training.
207X00000X	Plastic Surgery	Hand surgeons in plastic surgery perform tenolysis and complex soft-tissue reconstruction.
2080P0222X	Orthopaedic Hand Surgery	Subspecialty taxonomy for surgeons focusing on hand and upper extremity procedures.
208000000X	General Orthopaedics	Orthopaedic surgeons in community settings may perform tenolysis of forearm/wrist tendons.
163WC0000X	Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation	May be involved in perioperative management and postoperative therapy coordination.

Related Diagnoses

ICD-10 Code	Description	Clinical Relevance
Data not available in the input.	Data not available in the input.	Data not available in the input.

Related CPT Codes

CPT Code	Description	Relationship to This Procedure
`25295`	Tenolysis; forearm and/or wrist (release of tendon from adhesions)	Primary procedure — release of tendon adhesions to restore motion.
`26010`	Tenolysis, flexor tendon; single tendon	Used when tenolysis is limited to a single flexor tendon in the finger or hand during the same operative episode.
`26121`	Tenolysis, extensor tendon; single tendon, each	Performed when an extensor tendon adhesion in the wrist/hand requires separate tenolysis.
`64718`	Neuroplasty and/or transposition; major peripheral nerve, arm or leg (eg, ulnar nerve at elbow)	Performed when concomitant nerve adhesion or entrapment is addressed at the same operative setting.
`20610`	Arthrocentesis, aspiration and/or injection, major joint or bursa (eg, wrist)	May be used preoperatively or postoperatively for diagnostic or therapeutic injections related to stiffness or inflammation.
`29848`	Arthroscopy, wrist, surgical; limited	Used when wrist arthroscopy is performed for diagnosis or debridement in conjunction with open tenolysis.

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-25280-FOREARM-WRIST-TENDON-LENGTH-ADJUSTMENT-REPAIR

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

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

CPT 25290: Open Flexor Tendon Release, Forearm or Wrist

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

CPT 25300: Flexor Tendon Anchoring to Wrist Bone

Showing 1–10 of 53

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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Trek Health powers OpenPayer with a leading commercial payer intelligence platform, seamlessly converting fragmented payer data into actionable insights for provider organizations.

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CPT 25295: Tendon Adhesion Release, Forearm or Wrist

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Billing Code Overview

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CPT 25295: Tendon Adhesion Release, Forearm or Wrist

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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