2025 CPT code 15576
Effective Date: N/A Surgery - Integumentary System Feed
Formation of direct or tubed pedicle, with or without transfer; eyelids, nose, ears, lips, or intraoral
Modifiers may be applicable to indicate specific circumstances, such as staged or related procedures, distinct procedural services, or unusual non-overlapping services.
Medical necessity for this procedure must be established by documenting the presence of a defect or injury that requires surgical repair using a pedicle flap technique. The chosen recipient site and flap design should be justified based on the patient's individual circumstances and desired functional and cosmetic outcomes.
The surgeon prepares the patient, creates the pedicle flap from healthy tissue, and may transfer the flap to the recipient site during the same procedure. This involves careful planning, precise surgical technique, and meticulous wound care to ensure proper healing and flap survival.
In simple words: This procedure involves creating a flap of skin and tissue from a healthy area of the body and using it to cover a wound or injury on the eyelids, nose, ears, lips, or inside the mouth. The flap may be moved immediately to the injured site or left attached to its original location for a time before being transferred.
Formation of a direct or tubed pedicle flap, with or without transfer to the recipient site, involving the eyelids, nose, ears, lips, or intraoral area. This includes the surgical preparation of the flap and may involve the immediate or delayed transfer of the flap to the recipient site.
Example 1: A patient with a full-thickness defect of the lower eyelid following Mohs surgery for skin cancer. A pedicle flap is created from the upper eyelid and transferred to reconstruct the lower eyelid., A patient with a traumatic nasal defect following a dog bite. A tubed pedicle flap is created on the forehead and, after a period of "delay" to ensure adequate blood supply, transferred to the nose to repair the defect., A patient requires reconstruction of the lip following excision of a cancerous lesion. A pedicle flap is created from adjacent tissue and used to recreate the lip's natural shape and contour.
Detailed documentation of the defect size and location, the flap design and dimensions, the method of transfer (if applicable), and any complications encountered is crucial for proper coding and reimbursement.
- Specialties:Plastic Surgery, Reconstructive Surgery, Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Oculoplastic Surgery, and other specialties involved in wound repair and reconstruction may utilize this code.
- Place of Service:Ambulatory Surgical Center, Hospital Outpatient Department, Physician's Office