Podiatry Coding & Billing Alert

Question: My podiatrist performed an open tenotomy. What CPT^® code choices do I have to choose from?

Arizona Subscriber

Answer: For open tenotomies, you would look to the following codes:

• 28230 (Tenotomy, open, tendon flexor; foot, single or multiple tendon(s) (separate procedure)). This service is an open tenotomy of a single or multiple tendons of the flexor tendon(s), the bottom of the foot.
• 28232 (…; toe, single tendon (separate procedure)). With this procedure, the podiatrist cuts into or through a single flexor tendon of the toe using an open incision during the performance of a more extensive procedure.
• 28234 (Tenotomy, open, extensor, foot or toe, each tendon). The podiatrist performs an open tenotomy of an extensor tendon of the foot or toe during this procedure. Never report 28234 in addition to 28285 (Correction, hammertoe (eg, interphalangeal fusion, partial or total phalangectomy)), since the total hammertoe procedure includes an extensor tenotomy.