Tendon Sheath or Tendon Origin Injections

Tendon Sheath or Tendon Origin Injections

Tendon Sheath or Tendon Origin Injections involve the injection of steroids into the tendon sheath to reduce pain and inflammation. Injection is performed with x-ray or ultrasound guidance.

CPT 20550 - Injections; single tendon sheath, or ligament, aponeurosis (eg, plantar "fascia") 

Procedure Description:

After administration of adequate anesthesia and prep and draped, the physician locates the injection site. The appropriate amount of corticosteroid, anesthetic, or anti–inflammatory drug is then injected into the aponeurosis of the tendon sheath and/or ligament.

CPT 20551 - Injections, single tendon origin/insertion  

Procedure Description:

The patient is appropriately prepped and the area anesthetized, the physician prepares the site for injection. he may use radiological guidance to identify the tendon origin when it is not possible to visually locate the site of drug delivery. he injects the appropriate amount of corticosteroid, anesthetic, or anti inflammatory drug directly at the tendon origin or insertion and then withdraws the syringe. 

Notes:

Use code 20550 for injection of the plantar aponeurosis.

Single or multiple injections into the same ligament or tendon at different sites are coded as one.

For single or multiple injections into multiple ligaments, use multiple procedure codes.

Report the Bilateral procedure injections as 20550 with 50.