Summary & Overview
CPT 27664: Primary Repair of Extensor Tendon of Leg, No Graft
CPT code 27664 represents a surgical procedure for primary repair of an extensor tendon of the leg without graft placement. This code is used when a clinician performs direct tendon repair to restore function and relieve pain after tendon injury. The code matters nationally because extensor tendon injuries of the lower extremity can affect mobility and rehabilitation needs, and surgical repair drives perioperative resource use, facility billing, and post-operative care pathways.
Key payers commonly involved in coverage and reimbursement for this service include Aetna, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Cigna Health, UnitedHealthcare, and Medicare. Readers will find an overview of clinical context for the procedure, typical sites of service, and the types of benchmarks and policy elements that influence payment and utilization. The publication addresses coding specificity, service-line implications for orthopedic and ambulatory surgery settings, and the policy levers payers use to manage surgical episodes.
This summary prepares clinicians, billing professionals, and policy analysts to review benchmarks, payer coverage patterns, authorization considerations, and clinical documentation needs tied to operative repair of extensor tendons in the leg. Data not provided in the input (such as associated ICD-10 codes, taxonomies, and payer-specific rate tables) are noted as unavailable in accompanying sections.
Billing Code Overview
CPT code 27664 describes a primary repair of an extensor tendon of the leg without graft placement. The procedure is performed to restore tendon continuity, improve function, and relieve pain following traumatic or surgical disruption of the extensor tendon.
Service Type: Surgical repair — orthopedic soft-tissue procedure
Typical Site of Service: Operating room or procedure suite in an ambulatory surgery center or hospital outpatient setting
Data not available in the input.
Clinical & Coding Specifications
Clinical Context
A typical patient is a 28-year-old pedestrian who sustains a laceration to the anterior distal leg after a bicycle crash, presenting with dorsiflexion weakness and an open wound over the extensor tendons. Examination and imaging confirm a complete rupture of the extensor digitorum longus tendon without significant soft-tissue loss. The surgical workflow begins with preoperative evaluation, consent, anesthesia (regional or general), surgical site prep, irrigation and debridement of the wound, identification and primary end-to-end repair of the extensor tendon using appropriate suture technique, layered wound closure, and sterile dressing. Postoperative care includes immobilization in a posterior splint or cast, pain control, instruction on non-weight bearing or limited weight bearing as indicated, and referral to hand/foot therapy for progressive range-of-motion and strengthening. Typical site of service is an ambulatory surgical center or hospital outpatient operating room. Service type is operative/major procedure (primary tendon repair) performed by an orthopedic or podiatric surgeon to restore function and relieve pain; diagnosis-driven urgent or elective surgical care depending on timing and wound contamination.
Coding Specifications
| Modifier | Description | When to Use |
|---|---|---|
LT | Left side | When procedure is performed on the left leg |
RT |