CPT® Code 15733

Muscle, myocutaneous, or fasciocutaneous flap; head and neck with named vascular pedicle (ie, buccinators, genioglossus, temporalis, masseter, sternocleidomastoid, levator scapulae)

The procedure described by CPT® Code 15733 involves the use of a muscle, myocutaneous, or fasciocutaneous flap specifically for reconstructive purposes in the head and neck region. This technique is employed to repair defects that may arise due to trauma, surgical excision, or congenital anomalies. The flap is created from a donor site, which is a specific area of the body where the tissue is harvested. The harvested tissue includes muscle, skin, or a combination of both, and is carefully prepared to maintain its blood supply through a named vascular pedicle. This vascular pedicle is crucial as it ensures that the flap remains viable after being rotated into position to cover the defect. Once the flap is in place, it is sutured securely to the surrounding tissue, and the donor site is subsequently closed, either with sutures or, if necessary, a skin graft. It is important to note that if a skin graft is required to close the donor site, this procedure should be reported separately. This code is specifically designated for flaps taken from the head and neck regions, utilizing named vascular pedicles such as the buccinators, genioglossus, temporalis, masseter, sternocleidomastoid, and levator scapulae.