Wrist CPT codes

Radical resection of a tumor from the radius or ulna, including removal of surrounding tissue as needed to achieve adequate margins.

Decompression fasciotomy of a single compartment (flexor OR extensor) in the forearm or wrist, with debridement of nonviable muscle and/or nerve tissue.

Decompression fasciotomy of the forearm and/or wrist involving both the flexor AND extensor compartments, with debridement of nonviable muscle and/or nerve tissue.

Radical resection of a soft tissue tumor (such as a sarcoma) of the forearm or wrist measuring 3 cm or greater, requiring wide-margin excision beyond simple tumor removal.

Surgical repair of nonunion or malunion involving both the radius and ulna, performed with autogenous bone graft harvested during the same operative session.

Krukenberg procedure: surgical separation of the radius and ulna in a forearm amputation stump to create a functional pincer grasp powered by the pronator teres muscle.

Total wrist arthroplasty replacing the distal radius and partial or entire carpus with prosthetic components

Surgical lengthening of both the radius and ulna using bone graft harvested from the patient (autograft), performed to correct forearm length discrepancy or deformity.

Open repair or bone grafting of both the radius and ulna for established nonunion or malunion at the forearm.

Fusion of the distal radioulnar joint combined with segmental resection of the ulna, with or without bone graft — the Sauvé-Kapandji procedure.

Open treatment of a distal radial intra-articular fracture or epiphyseal separation requiring internal fixation of three or more fragments

Multiple osteotomies of the radius or ulna with intramedullary rod realignment (Sofield-type procedure) — a single-bone forearm correctional osteotomy.

Surgical repair of radius or ulna nonunion or malunion using an autograft, including harvest of the graft from the iliac crest or another donor site.

Osteoplasty of both the radius and ulna involving bone shortening, performed during a single operative session.

Revision of a previously placed wrist joint arthroplasty, including removal or exchange of the prosthetic implant at the radiocarpal joint.

Open capsulorrhaphy or ligamentous reconstruction of the wrist, addressing instability through repair or reconstruction of carpal ligaments and joint capsule.

Osteoplasty of the radius or ulna with lengthening using autograft harvested from the patient.

Surgical correction of nonunion or malunion affecting both the radius and ulna simultaneously, using compression or similar non-graft fixation technique.

Open repair of a radial shaft fracture combined with distal radioulnar joint (DRUJ) dislocation, including internal fixation and repair of the triangular fibrocartilage complex (TFCC) when performed — the Galeazzi fracture-dislocation pattern.

Surgical repair of a structural defect in the radius or ulna using autogenous bone graft harvested during the same operative session.

Revision osteotomy of both the radius and ulna shaft with intramedullary rod fixation to correct malunion or abnormal bony development in the forearm.

Surgical procedure that repositions the hand over the ulna to correct severe radial deviation, most commonly performed for congenital radial club hand (absent or hypoplastic radius).

Arthroplasty of the wrist with prosthetic replacement of the distal radius — resection of the distal radial segment and insertion of a synthetic implant at the wrist.

Osteotomy of both the radius and ulna performed during the same operative session to correct forearm deformity or malalignment.

Open treatment of both-bone forearm fractures — radius and ulna shaft — with internal fixation applied to each bone when performed.

Prophylactic fixation of both the radius and ulna using internal hardware (nail, pin, plate, or screw), with or without bone cement, to prevent pathologic fracture at a site of structural compromise.

Radical resection of a soft-tissue tumor of the forearm and/or wrist measuring less than 3 cm, typically performed for sarcoma or other aggressive neoplasms requiring wide-margin excision.

Secondary soft tissue reconstruction to stabilize an unstable distal ulna or distal radioulnar joint (DRUJ), using tendon transfer, graft, weave, or tenodesis, with or without open reduction of the DRUJ.

Arthroplasty of the intercarpal or carpometacarpal joints using suspension technique, including tendon transfer or transplant with interposition when performed.

Wrist joint fusion using iliac crest or other autograft, including harvesting of the graft at the same operative session

Wrist arthrodesis performed using a sliding bone graft technique to fuse the radiocarpal and/or intercarpal joints into a single solid construct.

Open arthroplasty of the wrist joint, with or without interposition material and with or without external or internal fixation.

Open treatment of a distal radial intra-articular fracture or epiphyseal separation with internal fixation of exactly 2 fragments.

Arthroplasty of the wrist with prosthetic replacement of the lunate bone, performed for conditions such as avascular necrosis of the lunate (Kienböck disease).

Limited wrist arthrodesis (intercarpal or radiocarpal fusion) performed with autograft harvested during the same surgical session.

Arthroplasty of the intercarpal or carpometacarpal joints using interposition technique, such as tendon graft placement, to restore joint mobility and cushion the arthritic joint space.

Arthroplasty of the wrist with prosthetic replacement of the distal ulna.

Open surgical repair of a failed-to-heal carpal bone (excluding scaphoid), typically involving bone graft and internal fixation to achieve union.

Arthroplasty with prosthetic replacement of the distal scaphoid at the carpus — insertion of an implant to replace the scaphoid bone at the wrist joint.

Repair of nonunion or malunion of the radius or ulna without bone graft, using compression or similar technique

Open treatment of a radial shaft fracture with internal fixation, combined with closed reduction of a distal radioulnar joint dislocation (Galeazzi fracture-dislocation), including percutaneous skeletal fixation of the DRUJ when performed.

Surgical shortening of a carpal bone by removing a segment of bone to correct length discrepancy at the wrist.

Decompression fasciotomy of the forearm releasing both the flexor and extensor compartments through surgical incision to relieve pathologically elevated intracompartmental pressure.

Fasciotomy releasing a single compartment of the forearm to relieve elevated pressure, performed through an incision carried deep to the fascia.

Flexor tendon origin release at the forearm to correct hand deformity caused by palsy — a reconstructive procedure that repositions muscle-tendon units to restore functional hand posture.

Surgical osteotomy of the radius at the middle or proximal third to correct angular deformity of the forearm.

Surgical repair of a scaphoid nonunion, with or without radial styloidectomy; includes harvesting and placing a bone graft and applying necessary fixation.

Surgical shortening of the radius or ulna via resection of a bone segment, with fixation of the remaining ends.

Surgical excision of a soft-tissue tumor or ganglion arising from the wrist or forearm, including deep subfascial or intramuscular lesions requiring extensive dissection.

Open treatment of an extra-articular distal radial fracture or epiphyseal separation with internal fixation using wires, screws, or pins.

Insertion of a vascular pedicle into a carpal bone to restore blood supply to avascular or necrotic wrist bone tissue (e.g., Hori procedure).

Surgical reinforcement of the ulna using internal fixation devices such as nails, pins, plates, or wires — with or without methylmethacrylate — to prevent pathologic fracture before it occurs.

Surgical arrest of bone growth at the distal radius and ulna epiphyses using implanted hardware (screws or staples) to correct angular or length deformity in a skeletally immature patient.

Open surgical repair of a trans-scaphoperilunar fracture-dislocation of the wrist, including internal fixation to restore carpal alignment.

Surgical incision and drainage of a deep abscess or hematoma located in the forearm and/or wrist, accessing structures beneath the superficial fascia.

Secondary repair of a flexor tendon or muscle in the forearm and/or wrist using a free graft harvested from the patient — performed after the acute injury window has passed.

Re-amputation at the wrist/hand level following a prior disarticulation through the wrist joint, performed to revise or clean up a prior amputation stump.

Prophylactic surgical reinforcement of the radius using internal fixation (nailing, pinning, plating, or wiring), with or without bone cement, to prevent pathologic fracture.

Complicated removal of a wrist prosthesis, including total wrist implant explantation requiring complex dissection

Complete wrist fusion without bone graft, spanning radiocarpal, intercarpal, and/or carpometacarpal joints — internal fixation only, no graft harvest.