2025 CPT code 15220
Effective Date: N/A Surgery - Surgical Procedures on the Integumentary System Feed
Full-thickness skin graft, free, including direct closure of donor site, to scalp, arms, and/or legs; 20 sq cm or less.
Modifiers may be applicable to indicate multiple procedures, bilateral procedures, or unusual circumstances.
Medical necessity should be established by documenting the condition requiring skin grafting, such as burns, trauma, or surgical defects, and the reasons why a full-thickness graft is the most appropriate treatment.
The physician removes the skin from the donor site and transfers it to the recipient bed. Both the donor and the recipient sites are then closed for healing.
In simple words: A full-thickness skin graft involves transplanting skin from one area of the body to another. This procedure is used for the scalp, arms, or legs, and involves a graft of 20 square centimeters or less. The area from where the skin is taken is also closed during the procedure.
This code describes a procedure where a full-thickness skin graft is taken from a donor site and placed onto a recipient site on the scalp, arms, or legs. The donor site is then closed directly. The graft size is 20 sq cm or less. Full-thickness skin grafts include the entire dermal layer.
Example 1: A patient has a 2x10 cm burn wound on their arm requiring a full-thickness skin graft. The graft is harvested from the thigh and the donor site is closed., A patient has a 4x5 cm skin defect on the scalp due to a dog bite. The wound requires a full-thickness skin graft, obtained from the forearm and the donor site is closed., A patient has a 5x4 cm area of skin loss on their leg as a result of an accident. A full-thickness skin graft is necessary, harvested from the upper arm, and the donor site is closed.
Documentation should include the size and location of the recipient site, the location of the donor site, the method of wound closure for both sites, and any complications encountered.
- Specialties:Plastic Surgery, Dermatology, General Surgery
- Place of Service:Inpatient Hospital, Outpatient Hospital, Ambulatory Surgical Center