2025 CPT code 64836
(Active) Effective Date: N/A Revision Date: N/A Surgery - Surgical Procedures on the Nervous System Surgery Feed
Suture of one ulnar motor nerve.
Modifiers may be applicable depending on the circumstances of the procedure (e.g., 51 for multiple procedures, 22 for increased procedural services, +69990 for microscopic techniques).
Medical necessity is established by the presence of a clinically significant ulnar nerve injury impairing hand or forearm function.The repair is deemed medically necessary to restore function and prevent long-term disability. Documentation must support the extent of the injury and the need for surgical repair.
The surgeon's responsibilities include prepping and anesthetizing the patient, making an incision (if necessary), locating the damaged ulnar nerve, preparing the nerve ends for repair, aligning the ends, suturing the nerve (epineurium), and closing the wound.
In simple words: The doctor repairs a damaged ulnar nerve in your hand or arm by sewing the ends back together. This nerve controls many hand and forearm muscles.
This CPT code, 64836, represents the surgical repair of a single ulnar motor nerve using sutures.The procedure involves locating the nerve (potentially requiring incision), preparing the damaged nerve ends, aligning them, and suturing the epineurium (the outer connective tissue) to reconnect the nerve. Additional sutures may be used depending on nerve size. The wound is then closed.
Example 1: A patient presents after a motorcycle accident with a severed ulnar nerve in their forearm. The surgeon performs an open repair using sutures to reconnect the nerve ends., A patient sustains a laceration to their wrist, resulting in a partially severed ulnar nerve.The surgeon performs a neurorrhaphy under microscopic guidance using 64836, documenting the use of an operating microscope (+69990)., A patient undergoes surgery to repair a traumatic injury to their hand which includes a transected ulnar nerve and a torn flexor tendon. The surgeon performs 64836 for the nerve repair and 26356 for the tendon repair.
Preoperative diagnosis, operative report detailing nerve location, type of repair (neurorrhaphy), number of sutures, use of microscope (if any), postoperative diagnosis, and any complications.
** The complexity of the repair may influence the selection of modifiers. The use of an operating microscope should always be specified in the documentation to allow for appropriate coding with +69990.Always refer to the most current CPT manual and NCCI edits for the latest guidelines.
- Revenue Code: P5E (AMBULATORY PROCEDURES - OTHER)
- Payment Status: Active
- Modifier TC rule: A technical component (TC) modifier is not applicable to this code.
- Specialties:Orthopedic Surgery, Neurosurgery, Plastic Surgery, Hand Surgery
- Place of Service:Office, Ambulatory Surgical Center, Inpatient Hospital, Outpatient Hospital