Wiki Documentation 28193 depth

[dtricia]

Please advise on the depth of the foreign body for this procedure. I see 28190 is subcutaneous. 28192 deep, the layer below that, dermis. Does use of 28193 have to be in the lower level of skin as in nerves, muscle or, as the note says "complicated".If the would is infected and requires anesthesia for exploration, can if be complicated in the dermis? I am advising my provider to include tissue depth in his note and yet it seems the code descriptor 28193 is lacking information.
I am not a coder in this specialty so I appreciate your valuable input
Tricia D

 

[iowagirl77]

The dermis is actually above the subcutaneous. 28190 is subcutaneous, 28192 is deeper than subcutaneous tissues. The Coder's Desk Reference is a wonderful guide if you are able to get one. It advises that 28193 may include incision, repair of any torn tendons, nerves or blood supply. Technically 28193 doesn't state depth, but the documentation should support more work/risk such as the desk reference states.