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    OpenPayerBilling CodesRepair, Revision, and/or Reconstruction Procedures on the Hand and FingersCPT cpt-26442-tenolysis-flexor-tendon-palm-finger
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    CPT 26442: Tenolysis, Flexor Tendon of Palm and Finger

    Medicare pays $989 on average nationally for this procedure.

    CPT code 26442 describes tenolysis of a flexor tendon in the palm and finger to release adhesions that limit tendon gliding; this is a surgical soft-tissue procedure typically performed in an operating room or ambulatory surgical center under regional or general anesthesia and involves dissection from the finger into the palm to free the tendon.

    For related coverage guidance, see recent payer policy updates: Shoulder Arthroplasty (Total, Partial, Reverse, Revision and Resurfacing), Hip Arthroplasty (partial and total hip replacement), Artificial Lumbar Intervertebral Disc (Lumbar Total Disc Arthroplasty).

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    Clinical & Coding Specifications

    Clinical Context

    A typical patient is a 45-year-old right-hand dominant manual laborer who presents with progressive loss of finger flexion and painful catching of the ring and small finger following a previous flexor tendon repair performed 6–12 months earlier. Conservative management including therapy and serial orthoses produced limited improvement. The surgeon schedules operative tenolysis of the flexor tendon from the palm into the finger to release adhesions and restore tendon glide.

    Preoperative workflow includes evaluation in the hand surgery clinic, review of prior operative reports and imaging, informed consent specific to adhesion release and possible concomitant procedures (e.g., pulley reconstruction, tendon grafting), and documentation of functional deficits. On the day of service the patient undergoes regional block or general anesthesia in an ambulatory surgery center or hospital outpatient department. The procedure typically involves exploration of the flexor sheath, careful dissection to free adhesions along the tendon from the distal palm into the affected digit, hemostasis, and assessment of passive and active glide intraoperatively. Postoperative workflow includes immobilization in a protective dressing and splint, initiation of hand therapy within a few days to maintain motion, and documentation of intraoperative findings and improvement in glide for coding and billing purposes.

    Related CPT Codes

    CPT CodeDescriptionRelationship to This Procedure
    26440Tenolysis, flexor tendon, single digit; from fingertip to palm, single digitOften performed for a single-digit adhesion release; 26442 covers extension from finger to palm and may be selected when the release extends more proximally.
    26441Tenolysis, flexor tendon; from fingertip to palm, multiple digitsUsed when multiple digits require tenolysis; may be reported in conjunction with 26442 for additional digits per coding rules.
    26055Tenolysis, flexor tendon, single digit, without tendon repairMay be reported for limited tenolysis procedures; verify descriptor and global period when combined.
    26125Repair, tendon or muscle, flexor or extensor, primary, without free graft; single fingerPerformed when tenolysis reveals a need for primary tendon repair during the same operative session.
    26445Tenolysis, flexor tendon; palm and forearmReported when release extends beyond the palm into the forearm; clarifies procedure scope relative to 26442.
    64718Neuroplasty and/or transposition; median nerve at carpal tunnelMay be performed in the same operative field for concurrent median nerve compression contributing to hand dysfunction; report separately with appropriate modifiers.

    Related Modifiers

    9 rows

    ModifierDescriptionWhen to Use
    22Modifier –22 (Increased Procedural Services) is used when a reported procedure is substantially more extensive than normally required. The CPT Manual and CMS state it may be appended only when the…- When to use: Append modifier -22 to a procedural CPT code when the service performed is substantially more extensive than the usual service described by that code — i.e., the procedure required…
    52Modifier ‑52 (Reduced Services) indicates that a service or procedure was partially reduced or omitted at the provider’s discretion, allowing reporting of the basic procedure number with a qualifier…- Use modifier -52 when a physician or qualified health professional electively reduces or omits part of a procedure or service (for example, performing fewer required views or omitting a portion of…
    53Modifier 53 (Discontinued Procedure) signals that a surgical or diagnostic service was begun by the physician but terminated because of extenuating circumstances that threatened the patient’s…- Use modifier -53 when a physician/qualified healthcare professional has started a surgical or diagnostic procedure (e.g., anesthesia administered, incision or scope insertion) and then discontinues…
    59Modifier 59 indicates a distinct procedural service when two procedures that are not normally billed together are clinically and procedurally separate. The CPT definition (as reiterated by CMS)…- Use modifier -59 to report a distinct procedural service when documentation supports that the procedure reported is not normally billed together with another service on the same day because of a…
    62Modifier 62 indicates that two surgeons function as co‑surgeons, each performing distinct parts of the same primary surgical procedure. It is appended to the primary procedure code (and any…- Use modifier -62 when two surgeons act as co‑surgeons (both primary surgeons) on a single definitive primary procedure, each performing distinct parts of the same surgical procedure (append -62 to…
    76Modifier -76, Repeat Procedure or Service by Same Physician or Other Qualified Health Care Professional, is appended when the same provider performs an identical, medically necessary procedure or…- Use modifier -76 when the same physician or other qualified health care professional performs an identical procedure or service a second (or subsequent) time on the same date of service and the…
    77Modifier 77 indicates that a previously performed procedure or service was legitimately repeated by a different physician or other qualified health care professional. The AMA’s CPT definition…- Use modifier 77 when a basic procedure or service already performed is repeated by a different physician or other qualified health care professional (for example, a second provider independently…
    79Modifier 79 indicates a surgical procedure performed during the postoperative global period of a prior surgery that is unrelated to the original procedure. Per AMA/CPT and CMS guidance, it is…- Use modifier 79 when the same physician (or same‑specialty physician in the same group) performs a surgical procedure during the postoperative global period of a prior surgery and the new procedure…
    80CPT® Modifier 80 (Assistant Surgeon) is appended to a surgical CPT code when a physician (MD or DO) provides full, continuous assistance throughout the operative procedure. It is intended only for…- Use CPT Modifier -80 when a physician (MD or DO) serves as an assistant surgeon and provides full, continuous assistance throughout the entire operative procedure; append -80 to the surgical CPT…

    Related Provider Taxonomies

    8 rows

    Taxonomy CodeSpecialtyNotes
    207L00000XAnesthesiology PhysicianAn anesthesiologist is trained to provide pain relief and maintenance, or restoration, of a stable condition during and immediately following an opera…
    207X00000XOrthopaedic Surgery PhysicianAn orthopaedic surgeon is trained in the preservation, investigation and restoration of the form and function of the extremities, spine and associated…
    208800000XUrology PhysicianA urologist manages benign and malignant medical and surgical disorders of the genitourinary system and the adrenal gland. This specialist has compreh…
    363A00000XPhysician AssistantA physician assistant is a person who has successfully completed an accredited education program for physician assistant, is licensed by the state and…
    364SX0204XPediatric Oncology Clinical Nurse SpecialistPhysician Assistants & Advanced Practice Nursing Providers · Clinical Nurse Specialist
    2086S0129XVascular Surgery PhysicianA surgeon with expertise in the management of surgical disorders of the blood vessels, excluding the intracranial vessels or the heart.
    2472D0500XDarkroom TechnicianNone
    1041C0700XClinical Social WorkerA social worker who holds a master's or doctoral degree in social work from an accredited school of social work in addition to at least two years of p…

    Related Payer Policy Updates

    Specialty: Orthopedics/Musculoskeletal1 / 2

    10 rows

    PolicyPayerEffective Date
    Shoulder Arthroplasty (Total, Partial, Reverse, Revision and Resurfacing)univerahealthcare2026-10-15
    Hip Arthroplasty (partial and total hip replacement)univerahealthcare2026-10-15
    Artificial Lumbar Intervertebral Disc (Lumbar Total Disc Arthroplasty)univerahealthcare2026-10-15
    Osteochondral Grafting of the Kneeuniverahealthcare2026-10-15
    Metal-on-Metal Total Hip Resurfacinguniverahealthcare2026-10-15
    Lumbar Fusion (arthrodesis) with decompressionuniverahealthcare2026-10-15
    Sacroiliac Joint Fusion or Stabilizationuniverahealthcare2026-10-15
    Percutaneous Vertebroplasty/Mechanical Vertebral Augmentation and Percutaneous Sacroplastyuniverahealthcare2026-10-15
    Autologous Chondrocyte Implantation (ACI)univerahealthcare2026-10-15
    Shoulder Open ProceduresPremera Bluecross2026-09-04

    Related Codes

    CPT-26340-FINGER-JOINT-MANIPULATION-UNDER-ANESTHESIA

    CPT 26340: Manipulation of Finger Joint Under Anesthesia

    CPT-26341-POST-ENZYME-MANIPULATION-FINGER-DUPUYTRENS

    CPT 26341: Manual Finger Manipulation After Enzyme Injection

    CPT-26350-FLEXOR-TENDON-REPAIR-HAND-FINGER-NOT-ZONE-2

    CPT 26350: Flexor Tendon Repair/Advancement (Hand/Finger, Not Zone 2)

    CPT-26352-FLEXOR-TENDON-REPAIR-FREE-GRAFT-DELAYED-RECONSTRUCTION

    CPT 26352: Flexor Tendon Repair/Advancement with Free Graft (Non–Zone 2)

    CPT-26356-FLEXOR-TENDON-REPAIR-FINGER

    CPT 26356: Flexor Tendon Repair of Finger

    CPT-26357-DELAYED-FLEXOR-TENDON-REPAIR-FINGER

    CPT 26357: Delayed Repair of Flexor Tendon in Finger

    CPT-26358-FLEXOR-TENDON-REPAIR-WITH-FREE-GRAFT

    CPT 26358: Flexor Tendon Repair of Finger with Free Graft

    CPT-26370-PRIMARY-PROFUNDUS-TENDON-REPAIR-FINGER

    CPT 26370: Primary Repair of Flexor Digitorum Profundus Tendon in Finger

    CPT-26372-SECONDARY-REPAIR-PROFUNDUS-TENDON-FREE-GRAFT-FINGER

    CPT 26372: Secondary Flexor Profundus Tendon Repair with Free Graft

    CPT-26373-SECONDARY-REPAIR-PROFUNDUS-TENDON-FINGER-PRESERVE-SUPERFICIALIS

    CPT 26373: Secondary Repair of Flexor Profundus Tendon in Finger

    Showing 1–10 of 84

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    Frequently Asked Questions

    References

    1. 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. 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. 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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