tci ED Coding & Reimbursement Alert - 2001 Issue 12

Reader Question: Wound Exploration

Question: A young man was recently seen in our ED with a laceration that had a large sliver embedded within it. The physician removed the foreign body and performed a simple repair. May we assign a wound exploration code in addition to the repair?South Dakota Subscriber Answer: It depends on the work performed and documented by the ED physician. Generally, however, simple removal of a sliver and wound closure would not justify a wound exploration code (20100-20103). These codes are intended for injuries sustained from penetrating trauma, and the code definitions require that the wound require enlargement, extension...

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