Summary & Overview
CPT 28190: Removal of Subcutaneous Foreign Body, Foot
CPT code 28190 denotes removal of a foreign body located in the subcutaneous tissue of the foot. This minor surgical procedure is commonly performed in outpatient settings, ambulatory surgical centers, and emergency departments to extract retained material that can cause pain, infection, or impaired function. Nationally, correct coding for such procedures affects clinical documentation, surgical billing, and quality tracking for soft-tissue interventions of the lower extremity.
Key payers in this analysis include Aetna, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Cigna Health, UnitedHealthcare, and Medicare. Readers will find a concise explanation of what the code represents, the typical clinical contexts in which it is used, and the procedural site-of-service implications. The publication also summarizes relevant benchmarks and policy considerations where available, highlights common modifiers associated with procedural billing, and contextualizes the code within lower-extremity minor surgical procedures.
This briefing is intended for coders, practice managers, and clinical billing stakeholders seeking a national-level reference on clinical intent and administrative handling of CPT code 28190. Data not available in the input are noted where applicable.
Billing Code Overview
CPT code 28190 describes the removal of a foreign body from the foot when the object is located in the subcutaneous tissue beneath the skin. The service involves surgical or procedural extraction of nonnative material from soft tissue of the foot.
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Service type: Minor surgical procedure for foreign body removal in the foot
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Typical site of service: Outpatient clinic, ambulatory surgical center, or emergency department where minor soft-tissue procedures are performed
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Clinical & Coding Specifications
Clinical Context
A 34-year-old construction worker presents to an outpatient podiatry clinic after stepping on a nail two days prior. The patient reports localized pain and intermittent drainage from the plantar surface of the forefoot. On exam there is a 0.5 cm puncture wound with a palpable subcutaneous metallic foreign body and localized erythema without systemic signs. Plain radiograph of the foot confirms a small radiopaque fragment in the subcutaneous tissue of the plantar aspect of the midfoot. The provider schedules removal of the foreign body under local anesthesia in the office. The clinical workflow includes informed consent, sterile prep, anesthetic infiltration, a small incision, soft tissue dissection to retrieve the fragment, irrigation, possible wound culture if infected tissue is present, hemostasis, and simple closure with sutures or adhesive strips. Post-procedure instructions, tetanus status review, and documentation of the procedure, findings, and specimens (if any) complete the encounter.
Coding Specifications
| Modifier | Description | When to Use |
|---|---|---|
25 | Significant, separately identifiable E/M service by the same physician on the same day of the procedure | When a distinct E/M visit is performed on the same day as the foreign body removal and must be billed separately |
59 |