2025 CPT code 15100
Effective Date: N/A Revision Date: N/A Surgery - Surgical Procedures on the Integumentary System Feed
Split-thickness autograft, trunk, arms, legs; first 100 sq cm or less, or 1% of body area of infants and children (except 15050).
Modifiers may be applicable. Common modifiers include 51 (Multiple Procedures), 59 (Distinct Procedural Service), 76 (Repeat Procedure by Same Physician), 77 (Repeat Procedure by Another Physician), etc. Specific modifier usage depends on the individual case and payer guidelines.
Medical necessity is established by the presence of a wound or burn that requires skin grafting for proper healing or closure.
The physician harvests the split-thickness skin graft using a dermatome and prepares the recipient site. They then place and secure the graft to the wound or burn area. The physician also manages post-operative care.
In simple words: A thin layer of skin is taken from a healthy area (like your trunk, arms, or legs) and placed over a wound or burn to help it heal. This code is for the first 100 square centimeters or less of skin used.
This procedure involves harvesting a split-thickness autograft (skin graft containing epidermis and part of the dermis) from the trunk, arms, or legs. The graft is then used to cover a wound or burn site on the same patient. This code is reported for the first 100 sq cm or less of graft area, or 1% of body area in infants and children. The graft is anchored using the individual's choice of fixation. When services are performed in the office, routine dressing supplies are not reported separately. The measurement of 100 sq cm is applicable to adults and children 10 years of age and older; and percentages of body surface area apply to infants and children younger than 10 years of age. The measurements apply to the size of the recipient area. Procedures involving wrist and/or ankle are reported with codes that include arm or leg in the descriptor.
Example 1: A patient presents with a 50 sq cm burn wound on their thigh. A split-thickness autograft is harvested from their back and applied to the burn site., An infant with a 0.5% body surface area burn receives a split-thickness autograft taken from their leg., A patient undergoes excision of a lesion on their arm, resulting in a 75 sq cm wound. The wound is closed with a split-thickness autograft taken from their thigh.
Documentation should include: size and location of the wound/burn, location of the donor site, size of the graft harvested, method of graft fixation, and any complications.
- Specialties:Plastic Surgery, General Surgery, Burn Surgery, Dermatology
- Place of Service:Inpatient Hospital, Outpatient Hospital, Ambulatory Surgical Center, Office