tci General Surgery Coding Alert - 2003 Issue 3

Reader Question: Use Modifier -78 with Wound Dehiscence

Question: The wound repair article in your December 2002 issue failed to mention wound dehiscence (12020, 12021, 13160). What is the purpose of these codes? Texas SubscriberAnswer: "Dehiscence" refers to a splitting open or bursting. As such, wound dehiscence usually describes the opening up of a previously sutured area (for example, an incision following surgery, wound repair, etc.). If a wound becomes infected, it will more likely dehisce due to the natural inflammatory process. Wound dehiscence code 12020 (Treatment of superficial wound dehiscence; simple closure) describes repair when there is no sign of infection. In this case, the...

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