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    v1.0.28
    OpenPayerBilling CodesExcision Procedures on the Foot and ToesCPT cpt-28086-foot-flexor-tendon-sheath-synovectomy
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    CPT 28086: Synovectomy of Flexor Tendon Sheath, Foot

    Medicare pays $559 on average nationally for this procedure.

    CPT code 28086 describes a synovectomy of the flexor tendon sheath of the foot, a surgical procedure to excise inflamed or diseased synovium to relieve pain; service type: operative surgical procedure; typical site of service: ambulatory surgery center or hospital operating room.

    For related coverage guidance, see recent payer policy updates: Hip Arthroplasty (partial and total hip replacement), Shoulder Arthroplasty (Total, Partial, Reverse, Revision and Resurfacing), Artificial Lumbar Intervertebral Disc (Lumbar Total Disc Arthroplasty).

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    Table of contents

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    Clinical & Coding Specifications

    Clinical Context

    A 54-year-old patient presents to an outpatient orthopedic clinic with several months of progressive forefoot pain, swelling, and crepitus localized to the plantar aspect of the toes. The patient reports worsening pain with toe flexion and point tenderness over the flexor tendon sheaths. Conservative care including NSAIDs, activity modification, and corticosteroid injection provided only temporary relief. Imaging (ultrasound or MRI) demonstrates synovial thickening around the flexor tendons of the foot without abscess. The patient is scheduled for an open synovectomy of the flexor tendon sheath to remove chronically inflamed synovium, relieve pain, and restore tendon gliding.

    Perioperative workflow: preoperative assessment and informed consent in clinic; anesthesia evaluation for regional or general anesthesia; intraoperative procedure performed in an ambulatory surgery center or hospital outpatient department with sterile preparation of the foot, incision over affected sheath, excision of pathologic synovium, hemostasis, and layered closure. Postoperative plan includes wound care, short period of immobilization or stiff-soled shoe, analgesia, and outpatient physical therapy for tendon mobilization as needed.

    Related CPT Codes

    CPT CodeDescriptionRelationship to This Procedure
    28086Synovectomy, flexor tendon sheath, footPrimary code for open removal of inflamed synovium from the flexor tendon sheath
    28820Tenotomy, toe; percutaneousMay be performed for tendon release in conjunction with synovectomy for tendon pathology
    28825Tenotomy, toe; openOpen tenotomy performed when tendon repair or release is required during same operative episode
    20550Injection, tendon sheath, ligament, ganglion cyst; therapeutic (e.g., corticosteroid)Often used preoperatively for diagnostic/therapeutic trial prior to proceeding to synovectomy
    99024Postoperative follow-up visit global periodBilling for routine postoperative follow-up within the global period when allowed

    Related Modifiers

    9 rows

    ModifierDescriptionWhen to Use
    59Modifier 59 indicates a distinct procedural service when two procedures that are not normally billed together are clinically and procedurally separate. The CPT definition (as reiterated by CMS)…- Use modifier -59 to report a distinct procedural service when documentation supports that the procedure reported is not normally billed together with another service on the same day because of a…
    51Modifier –51 (Multiple Procedures) is used when the same provider performs multiple procedures in the same session to identify secondary, non‑exempt procedures and indicate payment reduction logic…- Use modifier -51 when the same provider performs multiple distinct procedures during the same patient encounter: report the highest‑valued procedure first (no modifier) and append -51 to…
    52Modifier ‑52 (Reduced Services) indicates that a service or procedure was partially reduced or omitted at the provider’s discretion, allowing reporting of the basic procedure number with a qualifier…- Use modifier -52 when a physician or qualified health professional electively reduces or omits part of a procedure or service (for example, performing fewer required views or omitting a portion of…
    53Modifier 53 (Discontinued Procedure) signals that a surgical or diagnostic service was begun by the physician but terminated because of extenuating circumstances that threatened the patient’s…- Use modifier -53 when a physician/qualified healthcare professional has started a surgical or diagnostic procedure (e.g., anesthesia administered, incision or scope insertion) and then discontinues…
    22Modifier –22 (Increased Procedural Services) is used when a reported procedure is substantially more extensive than normally required. The CPT Manual and CMS state it may be appended only when the…- When to use: Append modifier -22 to a procedural CPT code when the service performed is substantially more extensive than the usual service described by that code — i.e., the procedure required…
    78CPT modifier -78 indicates an unplanned, related return to the operating or procedure room by the same provider during the global postoperative period. It is appended when treatment for a…- Use modifier -78 when an unplanned, related complication during the original procedure’s global postoperative period requires the patient to return to a formal operating or procedure room and the…
    76Modifier -76, Repeat Procedure or Service by Same Physician or Other Qualified Health Care Professional, is appended when the same provider performs an identical, medically necessary procedure or…- Use modifier -76 when the same physician or other qualified health care professional performs an identical procedure or service a second (or subsequent) time on the same date of service and the…
    62Modifier 62 indicates that two surgeons function as co‑surgeons, each performing distinct parts of the same primary surgical procedure. It is appended to the primary procedure code (and any…- Use modifier -62 when two surgeons act as co‑surgeons (both primary surgeons) on a single definitive primary procedure, each performing distinct parts of the same surgical procedure (append -62 to…
    80CPT® Modifier 80 (Assistant Surgeon) is appended to a surgical CPT code when a physician (MD or DO) provides full, continuous assistance throughout the operative procedure. It is intended only for…- Use CPT Modifier -80 when a physician (MD or DO) serves as an assistant surgeon and provides full, continuous assistance throughout the entire operative procedure; append -80 to the surgical CPT…

    Related Provider Taxonomies

    8 rows

    Taxonomy CodeSpecialtyNotes
    207W00000XOphthalmology PhysicianAn ophthalmologist has the knowledge and professional skills needed to provide comprehensive eye and vision care. Ophthalmologists are medically train…
    207L00000XAnesthesiology PhysicianAn anesthesiologist is trained to provide pain relief and maintenance, or restoration, of a stable condition during and immediately following an opera…
    163WP2201XAmbulatory Care Registered NurseNursing Service Providers · Registered Nurse
    364SH0200XHome Health Clinical Nurse SpecialistPhysician Assistants & Advanced Practice Nursing Providers · Clinical Nurse Specialist
    103TC2200XClinical Child & Adolescent PsychologistA psychologist who develops and applies scientific knowledge to the delivery of psychological services to infants, toddlers, children and adolescents …
    291U00000XClinical Medical Laboratory(1) A clinical laboratory is a facility for the biological, microbiological, serological, chemical, immunohematological, hematological, biophysical, c…
    225A00000XMusic TherapistMusic therapists use music interventions to assess clients' strengths and needs, develop goals, implement services, and evaluate and document progress…
    363L00000XNurse Practitioner(1) A registered nurse provider with a graduate degree in nursing prepared for advanced practice involving independent and interdependent decision mak…

    Related Payer Policy Updates

    Specialty: Orthopedics/Musculoskeletal1 / 3

    7 rows

    PolicyPayerEffective Date
    Hip Arthroplasty (partial and total hip replacement)univerahealthcare2026-10-15
    Shoulder Arthroplasty (Total, Partial, Reverse, Revision and Resurfacing)univerahealthcare2026-10-15
    Artificial Lumbar Intervertebral Disc (Lumbar Total Disc Arthroplasty)univerahealthcare2026-10-15
    Metal-on-Metal Total Hip Resurfacinguniverahealthcare2026-10-15
    Lumbar Fusion (arthrodesis) with decompressionuniverahealthcare2026-10-15
    Osteochondral Grafting of the Kneeuniverahealthcare2026-10-15
    Sacroiliac Joint Fusion or Stabilizationuniverahealthcare2026-10-15

    Related Codes

    CPT-28039-FOOT-TOE-SOFT-TISSUE-MASS-EXCISION-1-5CM-OR-GREATER

    CPT 28039: Excision of Soft Tissue Mass, Foot or Toe (≥1.5 cm)

    CPT-28041-FOOT-TOE-INTRINSIC-MUSCLE-MASS-EXCISION-15CM-OR-GREATER

    CPT 28041: Excision of Intrinsic Foot/Toe Muscle Mass, ≥1.5 cm

    CPT-28043-FOOT-TOE-SUBCUTANEOUS-MASS-EXCISION

    CPT 28043: Excision of Subcutaneous Foot/Toe Mass (<1.5 cm)

    CPT-28045-FOOT-TOE-SOFT-TISSUE-MASS-EXCISION

    CPT 28045: Excision of Intrinsic Foot/Toe Muscle Mass, <1.5 cm

    CPT-28046-EXTENSIVE-EXCISION-FOOT-TOE-SOFT-TISSUE-TUMOR

    CPT 28046: Extensive Excision of Soft-Tissue Tumor of Foot or Toe, <3 cm

    CPT-28047-EXTENSIVE-SOFT-TISSUE-TUMOR-EXCISION-FOOT-TOE-3CM-OR-MORE

    CPT 28047: Extensive Excision of Foot/Toe Soft Tissue Tumor ≥3 cm

    CPT-28050-FOOT-JOINT-EXPLORATION-SOFT-TISSUE-BIOPSY

    CPT 28050: Open Foot Joint Biopsy of Soft Tissue

    CPT-28052-METATARSOPHALANGEAL-JOINT-SOFT-TISSUE-BIOPSY

    CPT 28052: Open Biopsy of Metatarsophalangeal Joint Soft Tissue

    CPT-28054-DIGITAL-JOINT-BIOPSY-TOE-FINGER

    CPT 28054: Incision for Toe or Finger Joint Biopsy

    CPT-28055-BURSAL-EXCISION-WITH-NERVE-DISSECTION-NEURECTOMY

    CPT 28055: Bursal Debridement with Neurectomy, Upper Ankle/Foot

    Showing 1–10 of 45

    Frequently Asked Questions

    References

    1. 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. 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. 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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