Wiki How to code for wound debridement

[stephanie182@live.com]

How would this be coded? 1) plantar and medial left hallux measuring 5.5 cm by 4.3 cm x 0.4 cm
2) plantar distal tip of the 4th digit measuring 1.0 cm x 0.9 cm x 0.1 cm in depth

The patients wound(s) were evaluated today and the decision was made to debride all surroundingand overlying devitalized tissue. I performed debridement of ulcerative tissue today using a sterile #15blade in an excisional fashion down to and including the Subcutaneous fat layer. Bleeding wasminimal and well controlled with compression. The pain was controlled and the patient tolerated theprocedure well. The debridement was carried out on the burn ulcerations of the left hallux, 2nd digit, and 4th digit.

I billed 11042 because the wounds only add up to 12. Is this coded correctly?

 

[podcoder70]

11042 and 11045 as the combined sq cm of all wounds debrided down into and including subq tissue is 24.55 sq cm.

 

[stephanie182@live.com]

11042 and 11045 as the combined sq cm of all wounds debrided down into and including subq tissue is 24.55 sq cm.

Thank you for the reply. But I am just wondering how did get 24.55 sq cm? I am new to ortho and podiatry. Thank you

 

[podcoder70]

Thank you for the reply. But I am just wondering how did get 24.55 sq cm? I am new to ortho and podiatry. Thank you

Not sure I am following you...I believe I answered the question, but maybe I am not seeing the question. Are you asking how you got to 24.55 cm or how to code debridement of subq tissue on 24.55 sq cm? My answer is the same. 11042 is the first 20 sq cm, 11045 is each subsequent sq cm. Thus, 24.55 sq cm would be coded 11042 and 11045 (1 unit).