CPT® Code 64771

Transection or avulsion of a cranial nerve, as described by CPT® Code 64771, refers to a surgical procedure that involves the severing or removal of a portion of a cranial nerve. This intervention is typically indicated for the treatment of chronic pain that has not responded to other therapeutic measures. The procedure is specifically performed on cranial or spinal nerves that do not have a more specific coding designation. It is important to note that this surgical intervention occurs outside the dural membrane, which is the protective covering of the brain and spinal cord. The process begins with a skin incision, followed by dissection of the surrounding soft tissues to gain access to the targeted cranial or spinal nerve. Once the nerve is isolated, the transection is executed by grasping the nerve and dividing it. In some cases, the nerve may be avulsed by twisting it over a hemostat, or it may be stretched, ligated, and divided in a sequential manner, first distally and then proximally. Following the transection, the proximal end of the nerve retracts into deeper tissues, and the soft tissues are subsequently closed in layers. For coding purposes, CPT® Code 64771 is specifically designated for the transection or avulsion of a cranial nerve, while CPT® Code 64772 is used for similar procedures involving spinal nerves.