Mrs. Carmichael sees her foot and ankle surgeon with open ulcerated areas on the left lower leg and a separate lesion on the right lower leg. The surgeon documents staphylococcal carbuncles which need debridement. He proceeds to excise the skin, subcutaneous tissue, and muscle of a 4.0 cm × 3.0 cm, or 12 sq. cm, lesion in the right lower leg, and an excision of skin and subcutaneous tissue in the left lower leg of 3.0 cm × 8.0 cm, or 24 sq. cm. Select the appropriate CPT and ICD-10-CM codes.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The correct CPT codes are 11043 for the excision involving skin, subcutaneous tissue, and muscle of the right lower leg lesion, and 11042-59 for the excision of skin and subcutaneous tissue of the left lower leg, with the -59 modifier indicating a distinct procedural service. The 11045 code is added for each additional 20 sq. cm, or part thereof, of debridement. The ICD-10-CM codes L02.435 and L02.436 specify the locations of the carbuncles on the right and left lower legs, respectively, and B95.8 identifies the staphylococcal infection as the cause of the conditions.

Mrs Carmichael Sees Her Foot and Ankle Surgeon with Open