Question: Which surgical aftercare code should I use for a patient with a below knee amputation due to chronic foot ulcer and vasculitis?
Florida Subscriber
Answer: Assuming that the foot ulcer was caused by the vasculitis, to code an amputation for the foot ulcer related to the vasculitis, you should list the aftercare code V58.73 (Aftercare following surgery of the circulatory system). Codes classifiable to V58.73 are from the 390-459 range and vasculitis is coded in the 447 category. If the foot ulcer and the vasculitis are unrelated and the foot ulcer is the reason for the amputation, then code V58.77 (Aftercare following surgery of the skin, subcutaneous tissue).