Podiatry Coding & Billing Alert

The skin is a vital organ with several major functions and any open wound may lead to the disruption of one or more functions as well as pain, discomfort and possible infections. The longer a wound persists, the risk increases exponentially for potential infections. The purpose of skin grafting is to cover the wound, expedite its healing andminimize scarring. This is the procedure of choice in case of wounds that are extensive and unsuitable for closure by suturing.

A skin graft is a section of epidermis and dermis, which has been completely separated from its blood supply in one part of the body, the donor site, before being transplanted to another area of the body, its recipient site. Skin grafts may also be of synthetic or artificial origin. Grafts may be classified as partial or full-thickness, depending on how much of the dermis is taken by the physician.

Reasons for undertaking skin grafts may include accidents, foot injuries, and melanomas. Foot and leg ulcers are the leading cause of hospitalization in patients with diabetes mellitus and precede a majority of all diabetic-related skin grafts.