Summary & Overview
CPT 64766: Obturator Nerve Neurectomy for Groin Pain
CPT code 64766 denotes a surgical neurectomy or partial resection of the obturator nerve via a pelvic incision to relieve groin pain from nerve damage or entrapment. This targeted peripheral nerve procedure is clinically relevant for patients with refractory neuropathic groin pain and may include release of the adductor tendon when necessary. Nationally, the code matters because it captures resource use for a specialized operative service that spans orthopedic, general surgery, and neurosurgical care pathways and can affect coverage, prior authorization, and bundled payment considerations.
Key payers addressed include Aetna, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Cigna Health, UnitedHealthcare, and Medicare. Readers will find clinical context for the procedure, typical care settings, and what the code represents in claims. The publication outlines benchmarks where available, discusses common billing modifiers and coding context, and highlights policy and coverage considerations relevant to payers and providers. Data not available in the input is noted where applicable. The focus is national and intended to support coding accuracy, administrative planning, and payer-provider communication around surgical management of obturator nerve-related groin pain.
Billing Code Overview
CPT code 64766 describes a surgical procedure in which the provider severs or removes part of the obturator nerve through a pelvic incision to treat groin pain caused by nerve damage or entrapment. The procedure may include release of the tendon of the adductor muscle when indicated.
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Service type: Nerve surgery / neurosurgical or peripheral nerve procedure
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Typical site of service: Inpatient or outpatient surgical setting — commonly performed in an operating room within a hospital or ambulatory surgery center
Clinical & Coding Specifications
Clinical Context
A typical patient is an adult with chronic groin pain unresponsive to conservative measures such as physical therapy, activity modification, and analgesics. Symptoms include medial thigh or groin numbness, burning pain radiating along the distribution of the obturator nerve, and weakness with hip adduction. Imaging (pelvic MRI or ultrasound) and diagnostic nerve block confirm obturator nerve entrapment or neuropathy. The surgical workflow begins with preoperative evaluation, informed consent noting potential sensory and motor deficits, and anesthesia planning (general or regional). Intraoperatively, the patient is positioned supine; a pelvic incision is made to expose the obturator nerve where the surgeon severs or excises the affected segment (neurectomy) and may perform adductor tendon release if tendon entrapment is present. Hemostasis is achieved, wounds closed, and the patient recovers in the PACU with standard postoperative pain control and physical therapy referral for gait and strength rehabilitation. Typical site of service is an ambulatory surgery center or hospital operating room. Service type: open surgical peripheral nerve procedure (obturator neurectomy).
Coding Specifications
| Modifier | Description | When to Use |
|---|---|---|
22 | Increased procedural services | Use when work required is substantially greater than usual for 64766 (document rationale). |