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The procedure described by CPT® Code 23333 involves the removal of a foreign body located in the shoulder region, specifically within deep tissue layers. The term "deep tissue" refers to areas beneath the muscle fascia, known as subfascial, or within the muscle itself, termed intramuscular. This procedure is typically indicated when a foreign object, which may have been introduced through trauma or other means, poses a risk of infection, discomfort, or functional impairment. The identification of the foreign body is achieved through physical examination, often aided by palpation, and may also involve imaging studies such as radiographs if necessary. The surgical approach begins with the creation of a straight or elliptical incision over the identified site of the foreign body. Following this, the surgeon meticulously dissects through the soft tissues to reach the deeper layers where the foreign body resides. Once located, the foreign body is extracted using specialized instruments such as a hemostat or grasping forceps. In some cases, additional dissection may be required to adequately free the foreign body from surrounding tissues. After successful removal, the wound is typically irrigated with normal saline or an antibiotic solution to minimize the risk of infection, and the incision is closed in layers to promote optimal healing.
© Copyright 2026 Coding Ahead. All rights reserved.
The procedure associated with CPT® Code 23333 is indicated for the removal of foreign bodies from the shoulder region that are located in deep tissue layers. The following conditions may warrant this procedure:
The procedure for the removal of a foreign body from the shoulder involves several critical steps, each essential for ensuring successful extraction and patient safety:
Post-procedure care following the removal of a foreign body from the shoulder is essential for ensuring optimal recovery. Patients are typically monitored for any signs of infection or complications at the surgical site. Pain management may be provided as needed, and patients are advised on wound care instructions to keep the incision clean and dry. Follow-up appointments may be scheduled to assess healing and to remove any sutures if non-absorbable materials were used. Patients should also be educated on signs of complications, such as increased redness, swelling, or discharge from the incision site, which would necessitate immediate medical attention.
| Short Descr | REMOVE SHOULDER FB DEEP | Medium Descr | REMOVAL SHOULDER FOREIGN BODY DEEP SUBFASCIAL/IM | Long Descr | Removal of foreign body, shoulder; deep (subfascial or intramuscular) | Status Code | Active Code | Global Days | 090 - Major Surgery | PC/TC Indicator (26, TC) | 0 - Physician Service Code | Multiple Procedures (51) | 2 - Standard payment adjustment rules for multiple procedures apply. | Bilateral Surgery (50) | 1 - 150% payment adjustment for bilateral procedures applies. | Physician Supervisions | 09 - Concept does not apply. | Assistant Surgeon (80, 82) | 0 - Payment restriction for assistants at surgery applies to this procedure... | Co-Surgeons (62) | 0 - Co-surgeons not permitted for this procedure. | Team Surgery (66) | 0 - Team surgeons not permitted for this procedure. | Diagnostic Imaging Family | 99 - Concept Does Not Apply | APC Status Indicator | Hospital Part B services paid through a comprehensive APC | ASC Payment Indicator | Non office-based surgical procedure added in CY 2008 or later; payment based on OPPS relative payment weight. | Type of Service (TOS) | 2 - Surgery | Berenson-Eggers TOS (BETOS) | P3D - Major procedure, orthopedic - other | MUE | 1 |
| 22 | Increased procedural services: when the work required to provide a service is substantially greater than typically required, it may be identified by adding modifier 22 to the usual procedure code. documentation must support the substantial additional work and the reason for the additional work (ie, increased intensity, time, technical difficulty of procedure, severity of patient's condition, physical and mental effort required). note: this modifier should not be appended to an e/m service. | 51 | Multiple procedures: when multiple procedures, other than e/m services, physical medicine and rehabilitation services or provision of supplies (eg, vaccines), are performed at the same session by the same individual, the primary procedure or service may be reported as listed. the additional procedure(s) or service(s) may be identified by appending modifier 51 to the additional procedure or service code(s). note: this modifier should not be appended to designated "add-on" codes (see appendix d). | 59 | Distinct procedural service: under certain circumstances, it may be necessary to indicate that a procedure or service was distinct or independent from other non-e/m services performed on the same day. modifier 59 is used to identify procedures/services, other than e/m services, that are not normally reported together, but are appropriate under the circumstances. documentation must support a different session, different procedure or surgery, different site or organ system, separate incision/excision, separate lesion, or separate injury (or area of injury in extensive injuries) not ordinarily encountered or performed on the same day by the same individual. however, when another already established modifier is appropriate it should be used rather than modifier 59. only if no more descriptive modifier is available, and the use of modifier 59 best explains the circumstances, should modifier 59 be used. note: modifier 59 should not be appended to an e/m service. to report a separate and distinct e/m service with a non-e/m service performed on the same date, see modifier 25. | 78 | Unplanned return to the operating/procedure room by the same physician or other qualified health care professional following initial procedure for a related procedure during the postoperative period: it may be necessary to indicate that another procedure was performed during the postoperative period of the initial procedure (unplanned procedure following initial procedure). when this procedure is related to the first, and requires the use of an operating/procedure room, it may be reported by adding modifier 78 to the related procedure. (for repeat procedures, see modifier 76.) | 79 | Unrelated procedure or service by the same physician or other qualified health care professional during the postoperative period: the individual may need to indicate that the performance of a procedure or service during the postoperative period was unrelated to the original procedure. this circumstance may be reported by using modifier 79. (for repeat procedures on the same day, see modifier 76.) | 80 | Assistant surgeon: surgical assistant services may be identified by adding modifier 80 to the usual procedure number(s). | 82 | Assistant surgeon (when qualified resident surgeon not available): the unavailability of a qualified resident surgeon is a prerequisite for use of modifier 82 appended to the usual procedure code number(s). | AS | Physician assistant, nurse practitioner, or clinical nurse specialist services for assistant at surgery | GC | This service has been performed in part by a resident under the direction of a teaching physician | LT | Left side (used to identify procedures performed on the left side of the body) | RT | Right side (used to identify procedures performed on the right side of the body) | XS | Separate structure, a service that is distinct because it was performed on a separate organ/structure | XU | Unusual non-overlapping service, the use of a service that is distinct because it does not overlap usual components of the main service |
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| 2014-01-01 | Added | Added |
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