tci General Surgery Coding Alert - 2011 Issue 9

ICD-10: Distinguish 'Burns' from 'Corrosions'

You'll still need additional TBSA code.Reporting burns by body site/"degree" plus an additional code for total body surface area (TBSA) won't change when you start using ICD-10 in Oct. 2013. But reporting the cause of the burn will.ICD-10 Distinguishes Burn SourceA burn is a burn for ICD-9, but a burn may be a corrosion in ICD-10. "Corrosions" are chemical burns, and the new diagnosis coding system will allow your surgeon to make a distinction.Example: Let's say a patient has a second degree burn of the right thigh from accidentally spilling boiling water. Under ICD-9, you'd report...

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