Trigger Point Injections

Trigger Point Injections

Trigger point injections involve selective injection of a very small amount of anesthetic agent and
steroids into areas of pain, usually in the back, to relieve pain. Injections are made into muscles, and
coding is determined by the number of muscles injected.

Procedure description:

The patient is appropriately prepped and the area anesthetized, the provider palpates, or touches, the muscle to determine the location of a trigger point. he applies firm pressure to the trigger point to assess for referred pain and a twitch response. Then, he slowly injects the appropriate amount of corticosteroid or anesthetic into the trigger point.

CPT 20552 - Injections, single or multiple trigger points, 1 or 2 muscles 

CPT 20553 -  Injections, single or multiple trigger points, 3 or more muscles

If imaging guidance is performed, see 76942, 77002, 77021 

CPT 76942 - Ultrasonic guidance for needle placement (eg, biopsy, aspiration, injection, localization device), imaging supervision and interpretation

CPT 77002 - Fluoroscopic guidance for needle placement (eg, biopsy, aspiration, injection, localization device)

CPT 77021 - Magnetic resonance guidance for needle placement (eg, for biopsy, needle aspiration, injection, or placement of localization device) radiological supervision and interpretation

Notes:

These codes are based on the number of muscles injected. Consider as two if paired muscles
are injected.

Guidance is coded once per patient encounter, regardless of the number of regions treated.