Coding Challenge / surgery

Surgical Coding: Scar Revision on Previous Mastectomy Site

Tip: Find mastectomy scar revision in wound repair Question: Our surgeon performed a scar revision on the site of a previous mastectomy. The procedure involved excising a 16.5 cm curved scar before performing a layered closure. How should we code this? Answer: You should use complex wound repair codes for the scar revision procedure that you describe. [...] Related articles:

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December 14, 2009
Coding Challenge

Coding Keloid Scar Removal

Watch out: Avoid this unlisted code. Question: Is removal of a keloid scar considered an unlisted procedure? What is the right code? Answer: Use 17110 (Destruction [e.g., laser surgery, electrosurgery, cryosurgery, chemosurgery, surgical curettement], of benign lesions other than skin tags or cutaneous vascular lesions; up to 14 lesions) with diagnosis 701.4 (Keloid scar). 17110 and 7111 [...] Related articles:

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December 11, 2009
Coding Challenge / surgery

Surgical Coding Mysteries: The Case of the Separate Mesh

Beware Separate Mesh Removal Question: The surgeon performed the following: Made 10 cm supraumbilical transverse incision with 15-blade scalpel carried down through subcutaneous tissue using Bovie. Used combination electrocautery and blunted dissection to isolate area of scar tissue on patient’s right side. Noted sutures from previous umbilical hernia repair and mesh from right-lower abdominal hernia repair. Excised [...] Related articles:

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November 21, 2009