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CPT 27606: Percutaneous Achilles Tendon Incision

CPT code 27606 identifies a percutaneous incision of the Achilles tendon performed under general anesthesia, commonly used to treat tendinitis and to correct clubfoot deformity in children. Nationally, this code captures a focused surgical intervention that can appear across inpatient, outpatient surgery, and ambulatory surgical settings, and is relevant for orthopedics and pediatric orthopedic practices. Its proper use affects surgical case reporting, anesthesia planning, and facility billing.

Key payers in the analysis include Aetna, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Cigna Health, UnitedHealthcare, and Medicare. Readers will find an overview of clinical context and typical sites of service, common payer considerations, and coding relationships that influence billing and claims processing. The publication also highlights benchmark metrics and policy updates where available, situating CPT code 27606 within broader practice patterns and payer policies. Data not available in the input is noted when applicable.

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Billing Code Overview

CPT code 27606 describes a percutaneous incision of the Achilles tendon performed under general anesthesia. The procedure is used to treat tendinitis or to correct clubfoot deformity in children through a minimally invasive approach.

Service Type: Surgical procedure — tendon incision/release

Typical Site of Service: Operating room or ambulatory surgery center, performed under general anesthesia for pediatric or adult patients depending on indication.

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CPT 27606: Percutaneous Achilles Tendon Incision

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Billing Code Overview

Service Type: Surgical procedure — tendon incision/release

Typical Site of Service: Operating room or ambulatory surgery center, performed under general anesthesia for pediatric or adult patients depending on indication.

Clinical & Coding Specifications

Clinical Context

A 6-year-old child with congenital talipes equinovarus (clubfoot) presents for surgical correction after failed conservative casting. The orthopedic team evaluates the patient in preoperative clinic, confirms indication for a percutaneous Achilles tendon lengthening, obtains informed consent from the parent, and schedules the child for the procedure under general anesthesia in the ambulatory surgery center. On the day of surgery the patient undergoes preoperative verification, anesthesia induction, sterile preparation of the posterior ankle, and a percutaneous medial/lateral incision of the Achilles tendon using a small blade to achieve lengthening and restoration of ankle dorsiflexion. The surgeon confirms adequate correction intraoperatively, applies a short leg cast, and documents the procedure, laterality, anesthesia, implant use (none), and postoperative instructions. Typical postoperative workflow includes PACU recovery, discharge with cast care instructions, and outpatient follow‑up for cast removal and physical therapy.

Coding Specifications

Modifier	Description	When to Use
`AS`	Ambulatory Surgical Center (Facility)	Use when the service is provided in an ASC setting and billing requires facility designation.
`26`	Professional Component	Use when billing only the physician professional component separate from facility charges (rare for procedure-only codes).
`TC`	Technical Component	Use when billing only the facility/technical component of the procedure.
`50`	Bilateral Procedure	Use when both Achilles tendons are lengthened during the same operative session.
`LT`	Left Side	Use to indicate the procedure was performed on the left Achilles tendon.
`RT`	Right Side	Use to indicate the procedure was performed on the right Achilles tendon.
`59`	Distinct Procedural Service	Use when a separate, distinct procedure unrelated to the tendon lengthening is performed and requires separate payment.
`22`	Increased Procedural Services	Use when work or resources required substantially exceed typical requirements for the code (documentation required).
`52`	Reduced Services	Use when the procedure is partially reduced or not completed as planned.
`53`	Discontinued Procedure	Use when the procedure is started but stopped due to extenuating circumstances.
`78`	Unplanned Return to OR for a Related Procedure by Same Physician Following Initial Procedure	Use when patient returns to the OR during the global period for a complication related to the original tendon procedure.
`79`	Unrelated Procedure or Service by Same Physician During Global Period	Use when an unrelated surgery is performed during the global period.
`62`	Two Surgeons	Use when two surgeons of different specialties perform distinct portions of the procedure.
`73`	Discontinued Outpatient Hospital/ASC Procedure Prior to Anesthesia	Use when planned outpatient procedure is cancelled prior to induction of anesthesia.

Taxonomy Code	Specialty	Notes
207PX0106X	Orthopaedic Surgery	Pediatric orthopedists commonly perform Achilles tendon lengthening for clubfoot correction.
207L00000X	Orthopedic Sports Medicine	Sports-medicine orthopedists may perform percutaneous Achilles procedures for chronic tendinopathy.
208000000X	Podiatry (Surgery)	Podiatric surgeons perform Achilles tendon procedures for tendinitis and deformity correction.
207K00000X	Pediatric Orthopedics	Subspecialty focus on pediatric congenital foot deformities and surgical correction.

Related Diagnoses

ICD-10 Code	Description	Clinical Relevance
`M21.471`	Varus deformity, left ankle and foot	Clubfoot-related positional deformity that may require Achilles lengthening for correction.
`M21.472`	Valgus deformity, left ankle and foot	Ankle-position deformities associated with tendon contracture that may be addressed with lengthening.
`M76.60`	Achilles tendinopathy, unspecified leg	Chronic Achilles tendinopathy indicating percutaneous lengthening for refractory cases.
`Q66.0`	Talipes equinovarus [congenital]	Primary congenital clubfoot diagnosis commonly treated with Achilles tendon lengthening.
`S86.011A`	Strain of Achilles tendon, right leg, initial encounter	Acute or subacute tendon strain that in select cases may lead to procedural interventions.

Related CPT Codes

CPT Code	Description	Relationship to This Procedure
`27607`	Percutaneous lengthening of Achilles tendon; open procedure	May be used when a percutaneous technique is converted to or planned as an open lengthening.
`27650`	Tendon repair, posterior tibial or Achilles; acute repair	Used when primary tendon repair is required rather than lengthening, e.g., acute rupture identified intraoperatively.
`27654`	Repair, primary, open, Achilles tendon; with graft	Used when augmentation or grafting is required following debridement or chronic rupture.
`28899`	Unlisted procedure, foot or toes	Used for other nonstandard or novel procedures on the foot not described by existing codes.
`11042`	Debridement; skin, subcutaneous tissue and muscle of foot (for infected or necrotic tissue)	May be performed prior to or during tendon procedures when debridement of soft tissue is required.

CPT 27600: Decompression Fasciotomy of Anterior and Lateral Leg Compartments

CPT-27601-POSTERIOR-COMPARTMENT-FASCIOTOMY-LEG-DECOMPRESSION

CPT 27601: Posterior Compartment Fasciotomy of the Leg

CPT-27602-LEG-FASCIOTOMY-COMPARTMENT-DECOMPRESSION

CPT 27602: Leg Fasciotomy for Compartment Decompression

CPT-27603-INCISION-AND-DRAINAGE-ANKLE-LEG-ABSCESS-HEMATOMA

CPT 27603: Incision and Drainage, Ankle or Leg

CPT-27604-DRAINAGE-DEEP-LEG-ANKLE-BURSA-INFECTION

CPT 27604: Drainage of Deep Leg or Ankle Bursa Infection

CPT-27605-PERCUTANEOUS-ACHILLES-TENDON-INCISION

CPT 27605: Percutaneous Incision of Achilles Tendon

CPT-27607-LEG-ANKLE-BONE-ABSCESS-EXCISION-OSTEOMYELITIS

CPT 27607: Excision of Leg or Ankle Bone Abscess for Osteomyelitis

CPT-27610-ANKLE-ARTHROTOMY-EXPLORATION-DRAINAGE-FOREIGN-BODY-REMOVAL

CPT 27610: Ankle Arthrotomy for Exploration, Drainage, or Foreign Body Removal

CPT-27612-ANKLE-POSTERIOR-CAPSULOTOMY-EQUINUS-CORRECTION

CPT 27612: Posterior Capsulotomy of Ankle for Equinus Deformity

References

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.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.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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Clinical & Coding Specifications

Clinical Context

Coding Specifications

Modifier	Description	When to Use
`AS`	Ambulatory Surgical Center (Facility)	Use when the service is provided in an ASC setting and billing requires facility designation.
`26`	Professional Component	Use when billing only the physician professional component separate from facility charges (rare for procedure-only codes).
`TC`	Technical Component	Use when billing only the facility/technical component of the procedure.
`50`	Bilateral Procedure	Use when both Achilles tendons are lengthened during the same operative session.
`LT`	Left Side	Use to indicate the procedure was performed on the left Achilles tendon.
`RT`	Right Side	Use to indicate the procedure was performed on the right Achilles tendon.
`59`	Distinct Procedural Service	Use when a separate, distinct procedure unrelated to the tendon lengthening is performed and requires separate payment.
`22`	Increased Procedural Services	Use when work or resources required substantially exceed typical requirements for the code (documentation required).
`52`	Reduced Services	Use when the procedure is partially reduced or not completed as planned.
`53`	Discontinued Procedure	Use when the procedure is started but stopped due to extenuating circumstances.
`78`	Unplanned Return to OR for a Related Procedure by Same Physician Following Initial Procedure	Use when patient returns to the OR during the global period for a complication related to the original tendon procedure.
`79`	Unrelated Procedure or Service by Same Physician During Global Period	Use when an unrelated surgery is performed during the global period.
`62`	Two Surgeons	Use when two surgeons of different specialties perform distinct portions of the procedure.
`73`	Discontinued Outpatient Hospital/ASC Procedure Prior to Anesthesia	Use when planned outpatient procedure is cancelled prior to induction of anesthesia.

Taxonomy Code	Specialty	Notes
207PX0106X	Orthopaedic Surgery	Pediatric orthopedists commonly perform Achilles tendon lengthening for clubfoot correction.
207L00000X	Orthopedic Sports Medicine	Sports-medicine orthopedists may perform percutaneous Achilles procedures for chronic tendinopathy.
208000000X	Podiatry (Surgery)	Podiatric surgeons perform Achilles tendon procedures for tendinitis and deformity correction.
207K00000X	Pediatric Orthopedics	Subspecialty focus on pediatric congenital foot deformities and surgical correction.

Related Diagnoses

ICD-10 Code	Description	Clinical Relevance
`M21.471`	Varus deformity, left ankle and foot	Clubfoot-related positional deformity that may require Achilles lengthening for correction.
`M21.472`	Valgus deformity, left ankle and foot	Ankle-position deformities associated with tendon contracture that may be addressed with lengthening.
`M76.60`	Achilles tendinopathy, unspecified leg	Chronic Achilles tendinopathy indicating percutaneous lengthening for refractory cases.
`Q66.0`	Talipes equinovarus [congenital]	Primary congenital clubfoot diagnosis commonly treated with Achilles tendon lengthening.
`S86.011A`	Strain of Achilles tendon, right leg, initial encounter	Acute or subacute tendon strain that in select cases may lead to procedural interventions.

Related CPT Codes

CPT Code	Description	Relationship to This Procedure
`27607`	Percutaneous lengthening of Achilles tendon; open procedure	May be used when a percutaneous technique is converted to or planned as an open lengthening.
`27650`	Tendon repair, posterior tibial or Achilles; acute repair	Used when primary tendon repair is required rather than lengthening, e.g., acute rupture identified intraoperatively.
`27654`	Repair, primary, open, Achilles tendon; with graft	Used when augmentation or grafting is required following debridement or chronic rupture.
`28899`	Unlisted procedure, foot or toes	Used for other nonstandard or novel procedures on the foot not described by existing codes.
`11042`	Debridement; skin, subcutaneous tissue and muscle of foot (for infected or necrotic tissue)	May be performed prior to or during tendon procedures when debridement of soft tissue is required.

CPT 27600: Decompression Fasciotomy of Anterior and Lateral Leg Compartments

CPT-27601-POSTERIOR-COMPARTMENT-FASCIOTOMY-LEG-DECOMPRESSION

CPT 27601: Posterior Compartment Fasciotomy of the Leg

CPT-27602-LEG-FASCIOTOMY-COMPARTMENT-DECOMPRESSION

CPT 27602: Leg Fasciotomy for Compartment Decompression

CPT-27603-INCISION-AND-DRAINAGE-ANKLE-LEG-ABSCESS-HEMATOMA

CPT 27603: Incision and Drainage, Ankle or Leg

CPT-27604-DRAINAGE-DEEP-LEG-ANKLE-BURSA-INFECTION

CPT 27604: Drainage of Deep Leg or Ankle Bursa Infection

CPT-27605-PERCUTANEOUS-ACHILLES-TENDON-INCISION

CPT 27605: Percutaneous Incision of Achilles Tendon

CPT-27607-LEG-ANKLE-BONE-ABSCESS-EXCISION-OSTEOMYELITIS

CPT 27607: Excision of Leg or Ankle Bone Abscess for Osteomyelitis

CPT-27610-ANKLE-ARTHROTOMY-EXPLORATION-DRAINAGE-FOREIGN-BODY-REMOVAL

CPT 27610: Ankle Arthrotomy for Exploration, Drainage, or Foreign Body Removal

CPT-27612-ANKLE-POSTERIOR-CAPSULOTOMY-EQUINUS-CORRECTION

CPT 27612: Posterior Capsulotomy of Ankle for Equinus Deformity

References

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.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.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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CPT 27606: Percutaneous Achilles Tendon Incision

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Billing Code Overview

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CPT 27606: Percutaneous Achilles Tendon Incision

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Billing Code Overview

Clinical & Coding Specifications

Clinical Context

Coding Specifications

Related Diagnoses

Related CPT Codes

Related Codes

References

Clinical & Coding Specifications

Clinical Context

Coding Specifications

Related Diagnoses

Related CPT Codes

Related Codes

References