Bernadette10
Guru
CC: Postop wound check LT index finger
Patient had a1 pulley release for trigger finger and developed an infection at the incision site, so had I&D of the infected incision wound. Now comes in for aftercare of the infected incision wound 5 days after the I&D and no longer has signs of infection.
Diagnosis: Z48.817 aftercare following surgery on skin and subcu tissue? Or would I code the original infection following the original procedure as T81.4XXS sequela since the original infection was a sequela of the original surgery a1 pulley release? I thought normally we don't code aftercare codes with injury codes - it's one or the other. So would it just be the T code and not the aftercare code? But the patient is being seen for aftercare of the 2nd surgery I&D and not the first surgery a1 pulley release, or are these one and the same in this case? So confusing and thanks for any advice!
Patient had a1 pulley release for trigger finger and developed an infection at the incision site, so had I&D of the infected incision wound. Now comes in for aftercare of the infected incision wound 5 days after the I&D and no longer has signs of infection.
Diagnosis: Z48.817 aftercare following surgery on skin and subcu tissue? Or would I code the original infection following the original procedure as T81.4XXS sequela since the original infection was a sequela of the original surgery a1 pulley release? I thought normally we don't code aftercare codes with injury codes - it's one or the other. So would it just be the T code and not the aftercare code? But the patient is being seen for aftercare of the 2nd surgery I&D and not the first surgery a1 pulley release, or are these one and the same in this case? So confusing and thanks for any advice!