Summary & Overview
CPT 26320: Removal of Implant from Finger or Hand
CPT code 26320 denotes the surgical removal of an implant from the finger or hand. This code is used when previously placed hardware—such as plates, screws, pins, or other devices—is extracted. The procedure is clinically significant because implant removal can address pain, infection, hardware failure, or functional impairment and represents a common follow-up surgical intervention in hand and orthopedic care across the United States.
Key payers covered in this analysis include Aetna, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Cigna Health, UnitedHealthcare, and Medicare. Readers will find a national overview of the code’s clinical context, typical sites of service, and the primary payer landscape. The publication outlines benchmarking elements, common billing considerations, and relevant policy or coverage factors that influence reimbursement and utilization.
This summary is intended to inform clinicians, billing staff, and policy analysts about the role of CPT code 26320 in practice workflows, anticipated care settings, and payer interactions. Data not available in the input is noted where applicable; the content focuses on national-level interpretation rather than state-specific guidance.
Billing Code Overview
CPT code 26320 describes the removal of an implant from a finger or hand that was previously placed. This procedure typically involves surgical extraction of hardware such as plates, screws, pins, or other implanted devices from the bones, joints, or soft tissues of the finger or hand.
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Service type: Surgical removal of implant
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Typical site of service: Ambulatory surgery center or hospital operating room; may also be performed in an office-based surgical suite when appropriate
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Clinical & Coding Specifications
Clinical Context
A 56-year-old right-hand-dominant patient presents to the outpatient orthopedic hand clinic with pain, prominence, and intermittent infection over a previously plated proximal phalanx fracture of the right index finger placed 12 months earlier. Imaging confirms healed fracture but symptomatic hardware with localized soft-tissue irritation and intermittent drainage. The clinical workflow begins with preoperative evaluation including history, focused hand exam, and review of prior operative notes and radiographs. Perioperative planning includes anesthesia evaluation (local block, regional block, or monitored anesthesia care), informed consent for removal of implant and possible limited open irrigation and debridement if infection is present, and documentation of laterality and any comorbidities (e.g., diabetes). In the operating room or procedure suite, the provider identifies prior incision, exposes the implant, removes screws/plates or pins, inspects bone and soft tissues, cultures if infection suspected, irrigates, and closes. Postoperative documentation includes implant removal details, estimated blood loss, any intraoperative complications, specimens sent, and discharge instructions. Typical site of service is an ambulatory surgery center or hospital outpatient department. This procedure is billed as 26320 for removal of implant from finger or hand.
Coding Specifications
| Modifier | Description | When to Use |
|---|---|---|
51 | Multiple procedures |