Summary & Overview
CPT 28055: Bursal Excision with Nerve Dissection/Neurectomy
CPT code 28055 represents a surgical procedure that removes inflamed bursal tissue and dissects a peripheral nerve, dividing it at an upper point to relieve pain. This code captures targeted soft-tissue surgery often used when bursitis and associated nerve irritation produce refractory pain. Nationally, accurate coding for this procedure affects clinical documentation, reimbursement, and quality monitoring for surgical management of painful soft-tissue conditions.
Key payers in this analysis include Aetna, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Cigna Health, UnitedHealthcare, and Medicare. Readers will find an overview of clinical intent and typical settings for the service, plus guidance on where benchmarking and policy review are most relevant. The publication outlines common modifiers reported with this service, the typical service line and sites of care, and the clinical context for use of the code.
This summary prepares clinicians, coders, and policy analysts to understand the billing implications of performing bursal excision with nerve dissection, where it is commonly performed, and which payers are most likely to adjudicate claims for the service. Data not available in the input are noted where applicable, and the content focuses on national applicability rather than state-specific policy.
Billing Code Overview
CPT code 28055 describes a surgical procedure in which the provider excises inflamed bursal tissue and dissects a peripheral nerve, dividing it at an upper point to relieve pain. This procedure is a targeted soft-tissue surgery intended to remove a pathologic bursa and perform neurolysis/neurectomy of the affected nerve to reduce symptomatic pain.
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Service type: Surgical excision with nerve dissection/neurectomy
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Typical site of service: Ambulatory surgical center or hospital operating room
Data not available in the input for associated taxonomies, ICD-10 diagnoses, and related codes.
Clinical & Coding Specifications
Clinical Context
A 54-year-old right-hand–dominant patient presents with chronic lateral foot pain and numbness over the dorsal web space after months of conservative care that included rest, NSAIDs, orthotics, and physical therapy. Examination shows point tenderness over the dorsum of the foot with Tinel-like reproduction of symptoms and failure of nonoperative management. Imaging and nerve conduction studies localize focal entrapment and associated inflamed bursal tissue adjacent to the superficial peroneal (or dorsal digital) nerve. The surgical plan is outpatient excision of the inflamed bursa with neurolysis and division of the offending nerve branch to relieve persistent neuropathic pain.
The procedure is typically performed in an ambulatory surgery center or hospital outpatient department under regional or monitored anesthesia care. Preoperative workflow includes informed consent, marking of the operative site, and timeout. Intraoperative steps: incision over the area of maximal tenderness, identification and careful dissection of the bursal tissue, neurolysis of the involved sensory nerve, and division of the nerve at an appropriate proximal point to achieve pain relief. Hemostasis and layered closure follow. Postoperative workflow includes recovery in PACU, discharge with written wound care and pain-control instructions, and follow-up for wound check and pain assessment. Typical procedural documentation includes operative report detailing the anatomic structures encountered, length of nerve resection if applicable, and specimens sent, plus anesthesia and recovery notes.
Coding Specifications
| Modifier | Description | When to Use |
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