2025 CPT code 12044
(Active) Effective Date: N/A Revision Date: N/A Surgical Procedures on the Integumentary System - Wound Repair Surgery Feed
Intermediate repair of wounds of neck, hands, feet, and/or external genitalia; 7.6 to 12.5 cm.
Modifiers such as 51 (multiple procedures) and 59 (distinct procedural service) may be applicable depending on the circumstances of the encounter.
The medical necessity of wound repair is established by the presence of a wound requiring closure to promote healing, prevent infection, and restore function.Appropriate documentation should support the complexity of the repair (i.e. intermediate rather than simple closure).
The clinical responsibility includes proper wound assessment, debridement if necessary, appropriate anesthesia administration (if any), meticulous wound closure using suitable techniques (sutures, staples, adhesives), and appropriate postoperative care instructions.
In simple words: This code covers the repair of wounds on the neck, hands, feet, or genitals that are between 7.6 and 12.5 centimeters (about 3 to 5 inches) long. This type of repair is more involved than a simple stitch, requiring multiple layers and sometimes extensive cleaning.
This CPT code encompasses the intermediate repair of superficial wounds affecting the neck, hands, feet, and/or external genitalia, with wound dimensions ranging from 7.6 cm to 12.5 cm.The procedure involves meticulous wound preparation, including irrigation with saline solution and appropriate debridement to remove any contaminants or devitalized tissue.Layered closure of the wound is performed using absorbable sutures for deeper layers and a linear closure for the outer layer, potentially incorporating tissue adhesives such as Dermabond.The complexity of the repair necessitates multiple layers of closure and/or extensive cleaning of heavily contaminated wounds.
Example 1: A patient presents with a 10cm laceration on their hand from a glass shard. After thorough cleaning and debridement, a layered closure with absorbable sutures and Dermabond is performed. Code 12044 is appropriate., A patient sustains a 9cm laceration to the neck in a motor vehicle accident. Following wound exploration and hemostasis, an intermediate repair involving layered closure with absorbable sutures is done. This scenario warrants code 12044., An 8cm laceration on the foot is treated with debridement of devitalized tissue, meticulous wound cleansing, and multi-layered closure using absorbable and non-absorbable sutures.Code 12044 is the appropriate CPT code.
** Accurate documentation is critical for proper reimbursement.Always refer to the most current CPT guidelines and payer-specific policies for coding and reimbursement information.
- Revenue Code: P6A (Minor Procedures - Skin)
- RVU: Consult the current year's Medicare Physician Fee Schedule for RVU values.Values vary based on geographic location and facility type.
- Global Days : The global period for this procedure is dependent on payer-specific policies and may vary.
- Payment Status: Active
- Modifier TC rule: A technical component (TC) modifier is not applicable to this code.
- Fee Schedule : Historical fee schedule data is readily available through various commercial medical billing resources. Note that reimbursement rates vary by payer, location, and year.
- Specialties:General Surgery, Plastic Surgery, Emergency Medicine
- Place of Service:Office, Hospital Inpatient, Hospital Outpatient, Ambulatory Surgical Center, Urgent Care Facility