0LR70JZ
Replacement Hand Tendon, Right to No Qualifier with Synthetic Substitute, Open Approach
Procedural Specifications
| Clinical Axis | Detail Definition |
|---|---|
| Section | 0 Medical and Surgical |
| Body System | L Tendons |
| Operation | R Replacement |
| Body Part | 7 Hand Tendon, Right |
| Approach | 0 Open |
| Device | J Synthetic Substitute |
| Qualifier | Z No Qualifier |
Operation Definition
Putting in or on biological or synthetic material that physically takes the place and/or function of all or a portion of a body part
Procedure Overview
Replacement procedures involve taking out damaged or missing tendon tissue and putting in graft material, biological or synthetic, that physically takes over the tendon's job of connecting muscle to bone. This differs from a simple repair because the patient's own tendon tissue is not sufficient to close the gap, so a substitute, such as a tendon allograft, autograft harvested from elsewhere in the body, or a synthetic tendon substitute, is used to bridge or rebuild the structure.
This approach is common in chronic or long-standing tendon ruptures where the tendon ends have retracted and scarred, making direct repair impossible, as well as in reconstructive surgeries for conditions like chronic Achilles tendon rupture, some rotator cuff reconstructions, or ligament and tendon reconstructions in the hand. The goal is to restore functional continuity so the joint can move and bear load again, even though the replaced segment is not the patient's original tissue.
Anatomy & Axis Detail
Hand Tendon, Right
The tendons of the right hand include the flexor tendons running through the carpal tunnel and digital sheaths and the extensor tendons crossing the dorsum of the wrist, structures that must glide freely within synovial sheaths to permit fine motor control and grip. Replacement is considered when native tendon tissue is destroyed by deep laceration with segmental loss, chronic rupture with retraction, tumor excision, or failed prior repair where the gap cannot be bridged by direct suture or local tissue rearrangement. Because hand tendons are thin and heavily loaded through pulleys, replacement typically uses a free tendon graft, such as palmaris longus or a synthetic tendon substitute, threaded through the existing sheath. Coders should confirm whether the procedure autografts native tissue or inserts a nonbiological device, and should distinguish flexor from extensor involvement, since this affects device and qualifier selection.
Approach: Open
Open approach means the surgeon cuts through skin, mucous membrane, or other tissue layers to physically expose the target site to view before performing the procedure. It gives direct visualization and hands-on access, distinguishing it from Percutaneous approaches where instruments pass through a small puncture without exposing the site. Open is typical for procedures needing wide access, such as most laparotomies.
Device: Synthetic Substitute
Synthetic Substitute designates a device made from manufactured, non-biologic material, such as mesh or prosthetic components, used to replace or augment a body part. It is distinguished from the two tissue substitute categories by its artificial composition, which carries different considerations for integration and long-term durability than biologic grafts.
Coding & Documentation
To assign this root operation, the documentation must show that graft material physically substitutes for a segment of tendon rather than simply reinforcing or patching it. Coders should look for explicit mention of graft harvest or a specific graft product, and confirm the graft is taking the structural place of tendon rather than being layered on top for extra strength, which would instead be a Supplement procedure.
A common documentation gap is the operative note describing graft use without clarifying whether it fully substitutes for missing tendon tissue or merely augments intact tissue; coders should query the physician when this distinction is unclear, since it changes the root operation. Another frequent error is coding the graft harvest site as part of the tendon Replacement procedure rather than as its own separate procedure on the donor body part.