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General Surgery Coding Alert

Reader Questions:

Secondary Closure? Choose 12020/13160

Published on Sun Aug 22, 2004

Question: What is the proper code to describe secondary closure of abdominal wall dehiscence with fibrin glue?

Tennessee Subscriber Answer: Your best choice for secondary closure of abdominal wall dehiscence with fibrin glue is either 12020 (Treatment of superficial wound dehiscence; simple closure) or 13160 (Secondary closure of surgical wound or dehiscence, extensive or complicated), depending on the complexity and size of the closure. You will have to rely on the surgeon's documentation when deciding between these two codes.  - Technical and coding advice for You Be the Coder and Reader Questions provided by Marcella Bucknam, CPC, CCS-P, CPC-H, HIM program coordinator at Clarkson College in Omaha, Neb.
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