Summary & Overview
CPT 26060: Percutaneous Tenotomy of a Single Digit
CPT code 26060 denotes a percutaneous tenotomy of a single digit — a minimally invasive surgical release of a tendon to correct deformity from congenital or acquired muscle shortening. The code captures a focused surgical service commonly used in the treatment of spastic hand disorders and tendon contractures. Nationally, the procedure is relevant for musculoskeletal and neurologic care pathways where restoring finger motion or reducing contracture-related impairment is the goal.
Key payers covered in this analysis include Aetna, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Cigna Health, UnitedHealthcare, and Medicare. Readers will find a concise national overview of clinical context, expected sites of service, common billing considerations, and comparative benchmarks where available. The publication highlights billing patterns, coding guidance for percutaneous single-digit tenotomy, and policy updates that affect coverage and site-of-service determination. It also provides clinical context to help payers and providers align coding with documented indications, without offering clinical recommendations.
This summary serves clinicians, billing professionals, and policy analysts seeking a focused reference on CPT code 26060 — what it represents, where it’s typically performed, which major payers are included in the review, and what operational and policy topics are commonly associated with percutaneous digit tenotomy billing.
Billing Code Overview
CPT code 26060 describes a percutaneous tenotomy of a single digit, a minimally invasive surgical division of a tendon performed to relieve a deformity caused by congenital or acquired shortening of the muscle. This procedure is commonly used to treat tendon contractures and spastic hand disorders where a targeted release of a single digit restores range of motion or reduces deforming forces.
Service type: Surgical; percutaneous tenotomy (single digit)
Typical site of service: Ambulatory surgical center or hospital outpatient department, and it may also be performed in an office-based surgical setting when appropriate equipment and sterile technique are available.
Clinical & Coding Specifications
Clinical Context
A 6-year-old child with spastic cerebral palsy presents with a flexion contracture of the ring finger causing functional impairment and difficulty with hand hygiene. Conservative management including stretching, occupational therapy, and botulinum toxin injections has failed to restore adequate range of motion. The hand surgeon evaluates the patient in clinic, documents the localized tendon contracture of a single digit, reviews risks and benefits, obtains informed consent, and schedules a minimally invasive percutaneous tenotomy of the affected flexor tendon under monitored general anesthesia in an ambulatory surgery center. The procedure involves percutaneous division of the contracted tendon for deformity correction, brief intraoperative assessment of passive range of motion, wound care instruction, and a short period of postoperative observation for hemostasis and anesthesia recovery. Follow-up visits with hand therapy are arranged to monitor healing and optimize function.
Coding Specifications
| Modifier | Description | When to Use |
|---|---|---|
LT | Left side | When the tenotomy is performed on the left digit. |
RT | Right side | When the tenotomy is performed on the right digit. |