tci General Surgery Coding Alert - 2005 Issue 8

Reader Questions: Learn Key Phrases for Wound Code

Question: The physician documented a 2.2-cm superficial wound on the forearm that primarily involved the epidermis "without significant involvement of deeper structures" and performed a one-layer closure. Should I report this repair as simple or intermediate?Alabama Subscriber Answer: You should report a simple repair code (12001, Simple repair of superficial wounds of scalp, neck, axillae, external genitalia, trunk and/or extremities [including hands and feet]; 2.5 cm or less) because the wound was less than 2.5 cm long, on the forearm and did not require an intermediate or complex repair. Your clue to simple repair are...

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