You Be the Coder: Decubitus Ulcer: Look for Closure Documentation and More

Question: Our surgeon performed an ischiectomy during excision of an ischial pressure ulcer and closed the wound with sutures. How should we code the service?

Arkansas Subscriber

Answer: The correct code for the procedure you describe is 15941 (Excision, ischial pressure ulcer, with primary suture; with ostectomy [ischiectomy]).

You have several pressure-ulcer codes to choose from, depending on your surgeon's documentation regarding closure and extent of the procedure

For instance: If the surgeon sutured the wound site following decubitus-ulcer excision but hadn't performed an ostectomy, you should report 15940 (Excision, ischial pressure ulcer, with primary suture).

If the surgeon performed flap closure rather than [...]

- Published on 2011-12-16