Need help choosing the right code?
Ask CasePilot about procedures, modifiers, bundling, and coding guidance.
Try CasePilot© Copyright 2026 American Medical Association. All rights reserved.
The cervical plexus is a network of nerves formed by the anterior rami of the C1 to C4 spinal nerve roots. This plexus is situated anterior to the cervical spine and posterior to the sternocleidomastoid muscle, which is a prominent muscle in the neck. In the context of a cervical plexus block, the procedure involves the careful identification and marking of the posterior border of the sternocleidomastoid muscle, as well as the planned injection site(s). The procedure can be performed as a superficial cervical plexus block, where a single injection is typically administered at the midpoint of the sternocleidomastoid muscle, or as a deep cervical plexus block, which may require multiple injections between the C2 and C6 vertebrae. During the procedure, the clinician inserts a needle and performs aspiration to confirm that the needle is not positioned within a blood vessel or, in the case of a deep block, to ensure that it has not entered the subarachnoid space. Once proper placement is confirmed, the anesthetic agent is injected. If multiple injections are necessary, this process is repeated until the desired level of anesthesia or analgesia is achieved, providing effective pain management for various surgical or diagnostic procedures involving the neck and upper shoulder regions.
© Copyright 2026 Coding Ahead. All rights reserved.
The cervical plexus block is indicated for various clinical scenarios where pain management is required in the neck and upper shoulder regions. The following conditions may warrant the use of this procedure:
The procedure for administering a cervical plexus block involves several key steps to ensure accuracy and effectiveness. The following outlines the procedural steps:
After the cervical plexus block is performed, patients are typically monitored for any immediate adverse reactions to the anesthetic agent. It is important to assess the effectiveness of the block in providing pain relief. Patients may experience temporary numbness or weakness in the neck and shoulder area, which is expected. Post-procedure care may include advising patients on activity restrictions and monitoring for any signs of complications, such as hematoma or infection at the injection site. Follow-up appointments may be scheduled to evaluate the long-term effectiveness of the block and to determine if additional interventions are necessary.
| Short Descr | N BLOCK INJ CERVICAL PLEXUS | Medium Descr | INJECTION ANESTHETIC AGENT CERVICAL PLEXUS | Long Descr | Injection, anesthetic agent; cervical plexus | Status Code | Active Code | Global Days | 000 - Endoscopic or Minor Procedure | 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) | 1 - Statutory 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 | Procedure or Service, Multiple Reduction Applies | Type of Service (TOS) | 2 - Surgery | Berenson-Eggers TOS (BETOS) | P6C - Minor procedures - other (Medicare fee schedule) | MUE | Not applicable/unspecified. | CCS Clinical Classification | 8 - Other non-OR or closed therapeutic nervous system procedures |
|
Date
|
Action
|
Notes
|
|---|---|---|
| 2019-12-31 | Deleted | Code deleted, to report injection of anesthetic agent and/or steroid to the phrenic nerve, cervical plexus, use 64999 |
| 2011-01-01 | Changed | Short description changed. |
| Pre-1990 | Added | Code added. |
Get instant expert-level medical coding assistance.