CPC CPT Surgery: Integumentary System 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A patient has three lacerations repaired: a 2.5 cm simple repair on the scalp, a 1.5 cm simple repair on the arm, and a 3.0 cm simple repair on the trunk. How should the repairs be coded?
- Code each laceration separately with three CPT codes
- Add lengths of same-complexity, same-classification wounds together and report one code (Correct answer)
- Code only the longest wound and append modifier -51 to the others
- Report only the trunk repair as it is the largest body area
Correct answer: Add lengths of same-complexity, same-classification wounds together and report one code
For simple wound repairs, lengths of wounds in the same classification and body area grouping are added together before selecting the appropriate CPT code.
Question 2: Which CPT code range covers intermediate wound repair?
- 12001-12007
- 12031-12057 (Correct answer)
- 13100-13160
- 11040-11047
Correct answer: 12031-12057
Intermediate wound repair codes (12031-12057) include repairs requiring layered closure of subcutaneous tissue and non-muscle fascia or contaminated wounds needing single-layer closure.
Question 3: A physician performs a complex repair of a 5.0 cm wound on the forehead, requiring extensive undermining and retention sutures. Which code range applies?
- 12001-12007
- 12031-12057
- 13100-13160 (Correct answer)
- 11760-11762
Correct answer: 13100-13160
Complex repairs (13100-13160) involve complicated wound closure including scar revision, extensive undermining, or the use of retention sutures.
Question 4: When coding wound repair, which of the following is NOT included in the measurement of wound length?
- The actual wound length after debridement
- Extensions made for better exposure (Correct answer)
- Length of the skin defect itself
- The total length including any necessary excision of wound edges
Correct answer: Extensions made for better exposure
Extensions made solely for better exposure are not added to the wound length; only the wound defect itself is measured.
Question 5: A patient undergoes repair of a 4.0 cm intermediate laceration of the neck and a 2.0 cm simple laceration of the hand during the same session. How are these coded?
- One code for the neck only since it is more complex
- Report each repair separately since they are different classifications (Correct answer)
- Add the lengths together for a single intermediate repair code
- Report the hand repair with modifier -59 only
Correct answer: Report each repair separately since they are different classifications
Repairs of different complexities (intermediate vs. simple) are reported separately regardless of body area.
Question 6: Which of the following is included in simple repair CPT codes and should NOT be coded separately?
- Application of skin staples
- Dermabrasion of the wound edges
- Local anesthesia injection (Correct answer)
- Wound irrigation and simple debridement
Correct answer: Local anesthesia injection
Local anesthesia is bundled into wound repair codes and should never be reported as a separate service.
Question 7: A physician repairs a 3.0 cm simple laceration on the scalp and also performs a separate repair of a 2.5 cm simple laceration on the face. How should these be reported?
- Report both under the face code since it has a higher RVU
- Add the lengths together for one simple repair code using the face grouping
- Report each separately using the correct body area code, with modifier -59 on the second (Correct answer)
- Report only one code and note the additional site in the documentation
Correct answer: Report each separately using the correct body area code, with modifier -59 on the second
When simple repairs are performed on different body area groups (scalp vs. face), they are reported separately with modifier -59 on the additional procedure.
CPC CPT Surgery: Integumentary System 2
A patient has three lacerations repaired: a 2.5 cm simple repair on the scalp, a 1.5 cm simple repair on the arm, and a 3.0 cm simple repair on the trunk.
How should the repairs be coded?