Summary & Overview
CPT 26587: Excision of Extra Digit Involving Soft Tissue and Bone
CPT code 26587 denotes the surgical excision of an extra digit that includes both soft tissue and bone. This code captures a commonly billed hand/orthopedic procedure used to address congenital polydactyly and certain traumatic deformities. Nationally, accurate coding for combined soft tissue and osseous digit excision affects claim processing, appropriate payment determination, and quality measurement for minor orthopedic surgical services.
Key payers considered in this analysis include Aetna, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Cigna Health, UnitedHealthcare, and Medicare. Readers will find a concise overview of clinical context for the procedure, the typical sites of service where it is performed, and the billing considerations that influence reimbursement workflows. The publication summarizes common modifiers and payer interactions when present, outlines potential coding pitfalls, and presents benchmark themes relevant to outpatient surgical settings.
This resource is intended for billing professionals, practice managers, and clinicians involved in hand and orthopedic procedural coding who need a national-level reference on the classification and practical implications of CPT code 26587. Data not available in the input for payer-specific rates, utilization metrics, and associated ICD-10 diagnoses is noted where applicable.
Billing Code Overview
CPT code 26587 describes the surgical removal of an extra digit that contains both soft tissue and bone, commonly performed to correct congenital polydactyly or post-traumatic deformities. The service type is a minor to intermediate surgical procedure involving excision of osseous and soft tissue structures of a digit. The typical site of service is an outpatient ambulatory surgery center or an operating room in an acute care hospital where minor orthopedic or hand surgery procedures are performed.
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Clinical & Coding Specifications
Clinical Context
An adult patient presents to an outpatient ambulatory surgery center or hospital outpatient department complaining of an extra digit (polydactyly or post-traumatic supernumerary bone) on a finger or thumb that causes pain, functional limitation, cosmetic concern, or recurrent soft-tissue injury. Preoperative evaluation includes history, physical exam, and radiographs demonstrating a well-formed extra digit containing both soft tissue and bone. The surgical workflow typically includes informed consent, preoperative marking, regional block or local anesthesia with sedation (or general anesthesia if indicated), sterile prep and drape, excision of the extra digit including bone and associated soft tissue, hemostasis, possible primary closure or flap coverage, and application of dressing and digital splint. Postoperative care includes short-term wound checks, dressing changes, suture removal, and instructions for pain control and activity modification. Typical sites of service are ambulatory surgery centers, hospital outpatient departments, or surgeon offices with procedure rooms when appropriate for minor operative cases.
Coding Specifications
| Modifier | Description | When to Use |
|---|---|---|
22 | Increased procedural services | Use when work or complexity substantially exceeds typical for 26587 (document specific reasons). |