Open surgical release of the triceps tendon at the elbow, freeing adhesions or scar tissue to restore elbow extension strength and range of motion.

Verified May 8, 2026 · 7 sources ↓

Medicare: $589.86
Work RVU: 7.71
Global, days: 90
Region: Elbow

Drawn from CMSAbosHillphysiciansAAPCMdclarity

Documentation requirements

What must appear in the operative or office note to support the claim.

Source · Editorial brief grounded in 7 cited references ↓

Operative report must identify the specific location and extent of adhesions or scar tissue encountered at the triceps tendon.
Document the surgical approach by name and the anatomical structures dissected to access the tendon.
State the functional deficit present preoperatively (e.g., limited elbow extension, measurable ROM loss) and the conservative treatments that failed.
Record intraoperative findings that confirm tendon tethering distinct from a simple tenotomy or debridement — auditors flag notes that don't describe actual adhesion release.
If modifier 22 is appended, include a separate attestation quantifying the additional operative time and complexity beyond the typical tenolysis.

Applicable modifiers

Modifiers commonly billed with this code.

Source · AMA CPT modifier descriptors · CMS NCCI Policy Manual

22 Increased complexity 50 Bilateral procedure 51 Multiple procedures 59 Distinct service 78 Unplanned return — related 79 Unrelated during global 80 Assistant surgeon LT Left side RT Right side XS Separate structure

What this code covers

Source · Editorial summary grounded in 7 cited references ↓

CPT 24332 describes open tenolysis of the triceps — a procedure in which the surgeon dissects and releases the triceps tendon from surrounding adhesions, scar tissue, or fibrotic tissue that has restricted elbow function. The indication is typically post-traumatic or post-surgical stiffness that has not responded to conservative measures. The goal is to restore passive and active elbow extension by freeing the tendon along its course near the olecranon insertion.

This is a distinct procedure from tenotomy (24310) and tendon repair/reinsertion (24342). Debridement of degenerative triceps tissue alone does not map cleanly to 24332 — operative notes describing only debridement without tendon-to-surrounding-tissue release may not support this code and could warrant an unlisted code or a different CPT depending on the actual work performed.

24332 carries a 90-day global period. All routine post-op visits, wound checks, and elbow therapy evaluations by the operating surgeon are bundled through day 90. Billing a new or established office visit during that window requires modifier 24 (unrelated condition) or 25 (same-day significant and separately identifiable E/M, pre-op only). If the patient requires an unplanned return to the OR for a related problem — such as re-adhesion requiring revision release — use modifier 78. An unrelated elbow or upper arm procedure during the global uses modifier 79.

RVU & reimbursement

Component RVUs and Medicare national rate. Actual payment varies by GPCI locality.

Source · CMS Physician Fee Schedule, RVU26A · January 2026

Work RVU vs. total RVU

The work RVU (7.71) is the surgeon's own effort — the figure physician pay and productivity targets are built on. The total RVU (17.66) adds practice overhead and malpractice, and is what drives the Medicare payment below.

Work RVU	7.71
Practice expense RVU	8.31
Malpractice RVU	1.64
Total RVU	17.66
Medicare national rate	$589.86
Global period	90 days

Payment by site of service

Medicare pays different rates by setting. HOPD typically pays substantially more than ASC for the same procedure.

Source · CMS OPPS Addendum B·ASC HCPCS payment rates·2026

Setting	Medicare rate (national)
Office (PFS non-facility) Procedure performed in physician's office	$589.86
HOPD (APC 5113) Hospital outpatient department	$3,342.87
ASC (PI G2) Ambulatory surgical center (freestanding)	$1,644.87

Common denial reasons

The recurring reasons claims for CPT 24332 get rejected.

Source · Editorial brief grounded in CMS NCCI edits, AAOS coding appeals, and cited references ↓

Operative note describes debridement only, without documented release of adhesions binding the triceps tendon to surrounding tissue.
Medical necessity denied because conservative treatment (physical therapy, splinting) was not documented or was insufficient in duration before surgery.
Bundled denial when billed same-session with overlapping elbow reconstruction or repair codes lacking a modifier 59 or XS to establish distinct service.
Global period violation — post-op E/M billed without modifier 24 or 25 within the 90-day window.
Bilateral billing submitted with modifier 50 but payer requires separate line items with LT and RT instead.

Frequently asked questions

Source · Generated from the editorial pipeline, verified against 7 cited references ↓

01Is 24332 the right code if the surgeon debrided the triceps tendon without releasing adhesions?

No. Debridement alone does not map to 24332. If the work was debridement of degenerative tissue without freeing the tendon from surrounding adhesions, consult an unlisted elbow procedure code or evaluate whether another code better describes the work. Applying 24332 to a pure debridement is an audit risk.

02Can 24332 be billed bilaterally?

Yes. Use modifier 50 for a bilateral tenolysis performed in the same session, or LT/RT on separate line items — confirm which format your payer accepts before submitting, as requirements vary.

03What modifiers are needed if this is performed during another procedure's 90-day global?

Modifier 78 if the triceps tenolysis is an unplanned return to the OR for a complication related to the prior surgery. Modifier 79 if the tenolysis is entirely unrelated to the original procedure. Do not invert these — using 79 for a related complication is a known audit trigger.

04How does 24332 differ from 24310 (open tenotomy) or 24342 (reinsertion of ruptured triceps tendon)?

24310 is a simple tendon cutting procedure. 24342 addresses a ruptured tendon being reinserted distally. 24332 is specifically the release of an intact but adherent triceps tendon from scar tissue or adhesions. The operative findings must match the code — a repaired tendon and a lysed tendon are not interchangeable for billing.

05Does the 90-day global period affect elbow therapy referrals billed by the surgeon?

Yes. Any E/M visit by the operating surgeon related to the tenolysis is bundled through day 90. Physical therapy billed by a separate therapist or therapy group is not affected by the surgeon's global period and bills independently.

06Is prior authorization typically required for 24332?

Most commercial payers and some managed Medicare plans require authorization for elbow tenolysis. The Hill Physicians 2026 authorization schedule lists 24332 as requiring prior authorization. Verify with each payer before scheduling — missing auth is a top reason for post-service denials on this code.

Sources & references

Editorial content was developed using the following public sources. Last verified May 8, 2026.

Mira Scribe

Mira's AI scribe captures the operative dictation elements that matter most for 24332: the specific adhesion pattern encountered, the extent of tendon release performed, the approach used, and the pre-op ROM deficit that drove the indication. That prevents the two most common audit flags — notes that read as debridement rather than tenolysis, and missing conservative-treatment failure documentation. The scribe also flags when the procedure is performed during another code's global period, prompting the coder to assign modifier 78 or 79 before claim submission.

See how Mira captures CPT 24332 documentation