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CPT 28193: Deep Foreign Body Removal of Foot with Nerve and Tendon Repair

CPT code 28193 denotes surgical extraction of a deeply embedded foreign body from the foot with accompanying repair of torn nerves and tendon damage. This code captures a complex, operative intervention that combines foreign body removal with reconstructive repair of neurovascular and soft-tissue structures, and it is relevant for surgical, orthopaedic, and podiatric practices nationwide. The procedure often involves specialized operative care in an operating room or ambulatory surgery center and can affect resource use, postoperative rehabilitation needs, and complication risk.

Key payers covered in this analysis include Aetna, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Cigna Health, UnitedHealthcare, and Medicare. Readers will find a concise overview of clinical intent and service setting, typical coding considerations tied to complexity of repair, and what to expect in payer coverage contexts. The publication presents national benchmarks and policy considerations relevant to procedural coding, documentation expectations for combined foreign body removal with nerve and tendon repair, and implications for claims submission and utilization review. Clinical context includes scenarios that prompt combined management (deep location, associated nerve and tendon injury) and likely care pathways following surgery. Data not available in the input will be noted where applicable.

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Billing Code Overview

CPT code 28193 describes surgical removal of a deeply embedded foreign body from the foot with concurrent repair of torn nerves and tendon damage due to excessive tissue or nerve injury. The service requires operative management of foreign material located deep beneath the skin surface and includes necessary reconstructive repair of injured soft tissues and nerve structures encountered during the procedure.

Service type: Surgical procedure, orthopaedic/foot and ankle surgery
Typical site of service: Hospital operating room or ambulatory surgery center, depending on clinical complexity and patient factors

Data not available in the input.

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CPT 28193: Deep Foreign Body Removal of Foot with Nerve and Tendon Repair

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Billing Code Overview

Service type: Surgical procedure, orthopaedic/foot and ankle surgery
Typical site of service: Hospital operating room or ambulatory surgery center, depending on clinical complexity and patient factors

Data not available in the input.

Clinical & Coding Specifications

Clinical Context

A 28-year-old construction worker presents to the emergency department after stepping on a sharp metal fragment at a worksite. The fragment penetrated the plantar surface of the forefoot and lodged deep beneath the skin near the flexor tendons. On exam there is a 2.5 cm puncture wound with decreased toe flexion and focal sensory loss over the plantar digital nerve distribution. Plain radiographs identify a radiopaque foreign body adjacent to a flexor tendon. The patient is taken to the operating room for removal of the deep foreign body under regional or general anesthesia. During exploration, the surgeon finds torn tendon fibers and a partially lacerated digital nerve; the foreign body is removed, the tendon is debrided and repaired, and the nerve is repaired microsurgically.

The clinical workflow includes preoperative evaluation and consent, local/regional/general anesthesia, intraoperative exploration and foreign body removal, tendon and nerve repair with appropriate hemostasis, wound irrigation and closure, postoperative dressing and splinting, and scheduled follow-up for wound checks and rehabilitation. Documentation should include location and depth of the foreign body, reason for operative removal, structures encountered and repaired (tendon, nerve), anesthesia type, estimated blood loss, and disposition.

Coding Specifications

Modifier	Description	When to Use
`22`	Increased procedural services	Use when the procedure required substantially greater effort, time, or complexity than typical for `28193` (extensive debridement, unusually difficult exposure).
`23`	Unusual anesthesia	Use when aggressive physiological disturbance requires general anesthesia for a procedure normally done under local or regional anesthesia.
`26`	Professional component	Use if billing for only the professional component of a service that has a separate technical component (rare for `28193`).
`52`	Reduced services	Use when the procedure was partially reduced or not completed as documented.
`53`	Discontinued procedure	Use when the procedure was started but terminated due to extenuating circumstances.
`59`	Distinct procedural service	Use to indicate a separate and distinct procedure when another unrelated procedure is billed on the same date (ensure documentation supports distinctness).
`62`	Two surgeons	Use when two surgeons from different specialties perform distinct portions of the procedure requiring separate skills (for example orthopedics and microsurgery).
`76`	Repeat procedure by same physician	Data not provided in modifier list; not used.
`78`	Unplanned return to the OR	Use when the patient returns to the operating room for a related procedure during the postoperative period.
`80`	Assistant surgeon	Use for a surgical assistant who actively assists in the procedure.
`81`	Minimum assistant surgeon	Use when a minimal assistant surgeon provided support.
`LT`	Left side	Use to indicate the procedure was performed on the left foot.
`RT`	Right side	Use to indicate the procedure was performed on the right foot.
`59`	Distinct procedural service	(Listed twice above for emphasis) Ensure appropriate and supported use when multiple procedures on the same date are billed.

Taxonomy Code	Specialty	Notes
207X00000X	Orthopedic Surgery	Foot and ankle surgeons commonly perform deep foreign body removal with tendon repair.
207K00000X	Podiatric Medicine & Surgery	Podiatrists frequently manage foot trauma including foreign body removal and soft-tissue repair.
2080P0207X	General Surgery (Podiatric-focused procedures)	General surgeons with extremity trauma experience may perform these procedures in some settings.
2080P0206X	Plastic Surgery	Plastic surgeons perform complex soft-tissue and nerve repairs, especially microsurgical nerve repair.
363L00000X	Emergency Medicine	Emergency physicians may perform bedside foreign body removal or initial operative coordination; operative removal with nerve/tendon repair is typically surgical specialty-driven.

Related Diagnoses

ICD-10 Code	Description	Clinical Relevance
Data not available in the input.

Note: No ICD-10 diagnosis codes were provided in the input. Common diagnoses associated with deep foot foreign body with tendon and nerve injury include laceration and puncture wound codes, open wound with tendon injury, and peripheral nerve injury codes; choose the most specific codes supported by documentation when coding.

Related CPT Codes

CPT Code	Description	Relationship to This Procedure
`28010`	Exploration, traumatic wound; foot	Preceding or alternative code for simple open exploration of a traumatic wound without formal tendon/nerve repair; used if repair not required.
`25075`	Repair, tendon sheath, flexor (finger) — data not foot-specific; included for analogous tendon repair technique	Not strictly a foot code; selection depends on payer guidance — for foot flexor tendon repairs, use appropriate foot tendon repair codes if available.
`26418`	Repair, tendon, hand; primary repair, single tendon — analogous concept	Illustrates tendon repair procedures commonly billed alongside foreign body removal when tendon repair is performed.
`69990`	Microscopic technique, requiring use of an operating microscope (list separately in addition to the primary procedure)	Billed when operative microscopic magnification is used for nerve repair during the same operative session.
`12001`	Simple repair of superficial wounds (less than 2.5 cm)	May be billed for additional simple skin repairs in separate anatomic areas if documentation supports distinct wounds and services.

Note: Specific CPT codes for foot tendon and nerve repair may vary; use codes aligned to payer policies and operative documentation. If a procedure is fully captured by 28193 per payer guidance, additional repair codes should be used only when documentation and payer rules support separate billing.

CPT 28190: Removal of Subcutaneous Foreign Body, Foot

CPT-28192-FOREIGN-BODY-REMOVAL-DEEP-FOOT

CPT 28192: Removal of Deep Foreign Body from Foot

Frequently Asked Questions

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
`22`	Increased procedural services	Use when the procedure required substantially greater effort, time, or complexity than typical for `28193` (extensive debridement, unusually difficult exposure).
`23`	Unusual anesthesia	Use when aggressive physiological disturbance requires general anesthesia for a procedure normally done under local or regional anesthesia.
`26`	Professional component	Use if billing for only the professional component of a service that has a separate technical component (rare for `28193`).
`52`	Reduced services	Use when the procedure was partially reduced or not completed as documented.
`53`	Discontinued procedure	Use when the procedure was started but terminated due to extenuating circumstances.
`59`	Distinct procedural service	Use to indicate a separate and distinct procedure when another unrelated procedure is billed on the same date (ensure documentation supports distinctness).
`62`	Two surgeons	Use when two surgeons from different specialties perform distinct portions of the procedure requiring separate skills (for example orthopedics and microsurgery).
`76`	Repeat procedure by same physician	Data not provided in modifier list; not used.
`78`	Unplanned return to the OR	Use when the patient returns to the operating room for a related procedure during the postoperative period.
`80`	Assistant surgeon	Use for a surgical assistant who actively assists in the procedure.
`81`	Minimum assistant surgeon	Use when a minimal assistant surgeon provided support.
`LT`	Left side	Use to indicate the procedure was performed on the left foot.
`RT`	Right side	Use to indicate the procedure was performed on the right foot.
`59`	Distinct procedural service	(Listed twice above for emphasis) Ensure appropriate and supported use when multiple procedures on the same date are billed.

Taxonomy Code	Specialty	Notes
207X00000X	Orthopedic Surgery	Foot and ankle surgeons commonly perform deep foreign body removal with tendon repair.
207K00000X	Podiatric Medicine & Surgery	Podiatrists frequently manage foot trauma including foreign body removal and soft-tissue repair.
2080P0207X	General Surgery (Podiatric-focused procedures)	General surgeons with extremity trauma experience may perform these procedures in some settings.
2080P0206X	Plastic Surgery	Plastic surgeons perform complex soft-tissue and nerve repairs, especially microsurgical nerve repair.
363L00000X	Emergency Medicine	Emergency physicians may perform bedside foreign body removal or initial operative coordination; operative removal with nerve/tendon repair is typically surgical specialty-driven.

Related Diagnoses

ICD-10 Code	Description	Clinical Relevance
Data not available in the input.

Related CPT Codes

CPT Code	Description	Relationship to This Procedure
`28010`	Exploration, traumatic wound; foot	Preceding or alternative code for simple open exploration of a traumatic wound without formal tendon/nerve repair; used if repair not required.
`25075`	Repair, tendon sheath, flexor (finger) — data not foot-specific; included for analogous tendon repair technique	Not strictly a foot code; selection depends on payer guidance — for foot flexor tendon repairs, use appropriate foot tendon repair codes if available.
`26418`	Repair, tendon, hand; primary repair, single tendon — analogous concept	Illustrates tendon repair procedures commonly billed alongside foreign body removal when tendon repair is performed.
`69990`	Microscopic technique, requiring use of an operating microscope (list separately in addition to the primary procedure)	Billed when operative microscopic magnification is used for nerve repair during the same operative session.
`12001`	Simple repair of superficial wounds (less than 2.5 cm)	May be billed for additional simple skin repairs in separate anatomic areas if documentation supports distinct wounds and services.

CPT 28190: Removal of Subcutaneous Foreign Body, Foot

CPT-28192-FOREIGN-BODY-REMOVAL-DEEP-FOOT

CPT 28192: Removal of Deep Foreign Body from Foot

Frequently Asked Questions

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.

Published by

Trek Health powers OpenPayer with a leading commercial payer intelligence platform, seamlessly converting fragmented payer data into actionable insights for provider organizations.

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CPT 28193: Deep Foreign Body Removal of Foot with Nerve and Tendon Repair

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Billing Code Overview

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CPT 28193: Deep Foreign Body Removal of Foot with Nerve and Tendon Repair

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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

CPT 28193: Deep Foreign Body Removal of Foot with Nerve and Tendon Repair

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Billing Code Overview

CPT 28193: Deep Foreign Body Removal of Foot with Nerve and Tendon Repair

Sign up for cpt 28193 policy alerts

Billing Code Overview

Clinical & Coding Specifications

Clinical Context

Coding Specifications

Related Diagnoses

Related CPT Codes

Related Codes

What clinical situation does CPT 28193 cover and what documentation should be included?

Which CPT modifiers are commonly relevant when billing 28193?

Are there other CPT codes commonly billed with or instead of 28193?

Which specialties or taxonomy codes typically perform the procedure described by 28193?

Which payers are referenced for coverage context and what should be considered regarding payer policies?

References

Clinical & Coding Specifications

Clinical Context

Coding Specifications

Related Diagnoses

Related CPT Codes

Related Codes

What clinical situation does CPT 28193 cover and what documentation should be included?

Which CPT modifiers are commonly relevant when billing 28193?

Are there other CPT codes commonly billed with or instead of 28193?

Which specialties or taxonomy codes typically perform the procedure described by 28193?

Which payers are referenced for coverage context and what should be considered regarding payer policies?

References