Wiki Dehiscence surgical wound treatment

[anita carleton]

Patient had spinal surgery from the abdominal approach. There was only one surgical wound for the spinal surgery made. Patient then had dehisced surgical lines. My question is this: The physician is stating in notes that they are treating the "wounds", LT lower quad, LT lower quad middle, LT lower quad distal. So they are wanting to bill for a total of 3 wounds when the surgcial incision was one wound. Would you bill 11043 x 1 or 11043 x 3. Since this all comes from one surgical site in what appears to be a spreading fashion i am inclined to think x 1. Any help would be greatly appreciated!

Thank you,
Anita

*after posting I believe i have this figured out!

 

[sbicknell]

just curious, what did you decide?

 

[anita carleton]

The note was a bit confusing so I will have to speak with the physician to get a clearer picture. However, I know that if it is one surgical wound but has 3 sep. dehisced areas, that each can be seperatly billed. If it turns out to be 3 dehisced areas that have spread into one I would do one unit. Does this make sense?

 

[Treetoad]

Obviously, I'm not seeing the entire picture. But why would you use the debridement codes and not 13160?