Summary & Overview
CPT 26910: Metacarpal and Digit Amputation, Hand Surgery
CPT code 26910 represents surgical amputation of a metacarpal bone performed together with removal of a finger or thumb, with optional interosseous muscle transfer. This procedure is clinically significant because it addresses severe traumatic injury, infection, or irreparable disease of the hand and can affect long-term function, prosthetic needs, and rehabilitation. Nationally, accurate coding of such major hand surgery is important for care coordination, facility planning, and payment consistency.
Key payers covered in this overview include Aetna, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Cigna Health, UnitedHealthcare, and Medicare. Readers will find a concise explanation of the clinical context and typical sites of service, plus what to expect in a full analysis: reimbursement benchmarks, commonly reported modifiers, coding nuances, and relevant policy considerations that affect coverage and prior authorization. This summary does not reference state-specific rules and is written for a national audience.
The full publication provides benchmarks and payer policy summaries where available, highlights clinical scenarios that drive use of this code, and lists related codes and documentation elements to support appropriate reporting. Data not included in the input are noted as unavailable in corresponding sections.
Billing Code Overview
CPT code 26910 describes an amputation procedure of a metacarpal bone performed in conjunction with removal of a finger or thumb. The description indicates the provider amputates the metacarpal bone along with the digit and may include transfer of the interosseous muscle.
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Service type: Surgical procedure — hand amputation involving metacarpal and digit
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Typical site of service: Hospital operating room or ambulatory surgery center for hand surgery
Clinical & Coding Specifications
Clinical Context
A typical patient is a 45–70-year-old adult presenting with severe traumatic or chronic pathology of a finger or thumb metacarpal (for example, crush injury with nonreconstructable bone loss, chronic osteomyelitis, or painful nonunion with soft-tissue compromise) requiring surgical amputation at the metacarpal level. The patient is evaluated in the hand surgery clinic with history, physical exam, and imaging (radiographs, and occasionally CT) confirming irreparable bony and soft-tissue damage. Preoperative counseling addresses expected residual limb length, potential for interosseous muscle transfer, wound care, and prosthetic or reconstructive options.
On the day of service the procedure is performed in an ambulatory surgery center or hospital operating room under regional block or general anesthesia. The surgeon performs dissection to the metacarpal, resects the metacarpal bone with appropriate soft-tissue management, controls bleeding, and may transfer an interosseous muscle to improve stump contour or function as indicated. Postoperative care includes dressing application, analgesia, antibiotics if infected, and follow-up for wound checks and hand therapy as needed.
Coding Specifications
| Modifier | Description | When to Use |
|---|---|---|
26 | Professional component | Use when reporting only the surgeon's professional component distinct from technical facility billing (rare for this procedure). |