CPT® Code 64736

Transection or avulsion of the mental nerve, as described by CPT® Code 64736, refers to a surgical procedure that involves severing or removing a portion of the mental nerve. This procedure is typically performed to alleviate chronic pain associated with conditions affecting the nerve. The mental nerve is a significant branch of the inferior alveolar nerve, which is responsible for providing sensory innervation to specific areas of the face. It originates at the mental foramen, a small opening in the mandible, and subsequently divides into three branches that innervate the skin of the chin and the skin and mucous membrane of the lower lip. The surgical approach to accessing the mental nerve can be done either intraorally, through the mouth, or extraorally, through an incision made on the outside of the jaw. In the extraoral approach, an incision is made below and parallel to the angle of the mandible, allowing for exposure of the masseter muscle. This muscle is then split in alignment with its fibers to reveal the lateral surface of the mandible, where the mental nerve can be identified and isolated for transection or avulsion. The procedure may involve grasping the nerve and dividing it proximally, or alternatively, stretching, ligating, and dividing the nerve to facilitate its removal. This surgical intervention is aimed at providing relief from chronic pain by disrupting the nerve's function.