2025 CPT code 11044
(Active) Effective Date: N/A Revision Date: N/A Surgery - Debridement Procedures on the Skin Surgery Feed
Surgical debridement of bone; first 20 sq cm or less. Includes epidermis, dermis, subcutaneous tissue, muscle, and/or fascia if performed.
Modifiers such as -59 (distinct procedural service) or other appropriate modifiers may be used when necessary based on the specific circumstances and payer guidelines.Always use the most specific modifier when available.
Debridement is medically necessary to remove necrotic tissue, prevent infection, and promote healing in wounds involving bone. The procedure is indicated in cases of pressure ulcers, traumatic injuries, osteomyelitis, and other conditions resulting in dead or infected bone.
The physician or qualified healthcare professional performs the surgical debridement after appropriate patient preparation and anesthesia. This includes meticulous wound cleansing, removal of necrotic or foreign material, and potential wound closure (immediate or delayed). The physician will determine the necessity for debridement based on clinical presentation and assessment.
- Surgery
- Surgical Procedures on the Skin, Subcutaneous and Accessory Structures; Debridement Procedures on the Skin
In simple words: This code covers a surgical procedure to remove dead or infected bone from a wound up to a certain size (20 square centimeters).The doctor will also remove other dead tissue, such as skin or muscle, if necessary, during the same procedure.
CPT code 11044 describes surgical debridement of bone tissue involving a wound area of 20 square centimeters or less.The procedure includes the removal of dead, damaged, or infected bone tissue.Debridement of epidermis, dermis, subcutaneous tissue, muscle, and/or fascia is also included in this code if performed. The selection of this code is determined by the deepest level of tissue debrided.If multiple wounds are debrided to the same depth, the surface areas are summed. Wounds of differing depths are not combined for coding purposes.
Example 1: A patient presents with a 15 sq cm pressure ulcer on the heel involving exposed bone. The surgeon performs a debridement removing the necrotic bone and surrounding soft tissue. Code 11044 is used., A patient sustains a traumatic injury with a 10 sq cm wound involving bone exposure in the forearm. The orthopedic surgeon performs debridement removing necrotic tissue, including bone, subcutaneous tissue and skin. Code 11044 is used. , A patient with osteomyelitis presents with two separate wounds requiring debridement to the bone: a 12 sq cm wound on the tibia and an 8 sq cm wound on the fibula. Both wounds are debrided to bone. The total surface area (20 sq cm) is coded using 11044. No additional codes are needed.
** This code is specifically for debridement down to bone. The surface area is measured based on the total surface area debrided down to bone. If the debridement reaches the bone in multiple locations, the areas are combined.Always ensure detailed documentation supports the code selection.
- Revenue Code: P5A (AMBULATORY PROCEDURES - SKIN)
- RVU: This information is not provided and varies by payer and location.Consult your local fee schedule and payer contracts.
- Global Days: Not applicable; this code is not associated with a global surgical period.
- Payment Status: Active
- Modifier TC rule: This code does not typically require a technical component (TC) modifier. However, consult with your local payer to confirm their specific rules.
- Fee Schedule: Historical fee schedules are not provided. Consult your payer’s historical data or fee schedules.
- Specialties:Orthopedics, Podiatry, General Surgery, Plastic Surgery
- Place of Service:Inpatient Hospital, Outpatient Hospital, Ambulatory Surgical Center, Office