2025 CPT code 12037
(Active) Effective Date: N/A Revision Date: N/A Surgery - Intermediate Repair Integumentary System Feed
Intermediate repair of wounds to the scalp, axillae, trunk, and/or extremities (excluding hands and feet) exceeding 30.0 cm.
Modifiers such as 59 (distinct procedural service) may be used when additional services are provided on the same day, depending on the circumstances.
Medical necessity is established by the nature and extent of the wound, requiring surgical intervention to achieve proper healing and prevent complications such as infection or significant scarring.The documentation must support the complexity of the repair and justify the choice of CPT code.
The physician's responsibilities include obtaining informed consent, prepping and draping the surgical site, administering local anesthesia, inspecting and irrigating the wound, performing appropriate debridement, meticulously closing the wound in layers (using absorbable sutures for inner layers and potentially a linear closure for the external layer), and applying appropriate wound adhesives such as Dermabond.
In simple words: This code covers fixing wounds on the scalp, armpits, torso, and arms/legs (not including hands and feet) that are longer than 30 centimeters.The repair involves carefully stitching multiple layers of skin and underlying tissue.
This CPT code encompasses the intermediate repair of wounds located on the scalp, axillae, trunk, and/or extremities (excluding hands and feet), where the total length of the repair exceeds 30.0 cm.Intermediate repair involves layered closure of one or more deeper layers (subcutaneous tissue, superficial fascia) in addition to skin closure.It may include limited undermining (less than the maximum defect width perpendicular to the closure line along at least one edge).Single-layer closure of heavily contaminated wounds requiring extensive cleaning or particulate matter removal also qualifies as intermediate.
Example 1: A patient presents with a 35cm laceration across the back sustained during a motorcycle accident.The physician performs an intermediate repair, closing the wound in layers., A patient experiences a large, contaminated wound (40cm) on their thigh after a dog attack. Extensive cleaning and debridement are necessary before layered closure., A patient has a 32 cm laceration to the abdomen resulting from a fall. The wound requires extensive tissue repair with multiple layers of closure.
Detailed medical record should include the wound's location, length, depth, contamination status, description of any debridement performed, and the type of closure used. Preoperative and postoperative photographs are recommended.Measurements should be carefully documented.
** Accurate measurement of the wound is crucial for appropriate code selection.Consider using appropriate modifiers if additional procedures (like debridement) are performed on the same wound.
- Revenue Code: P5A (Ambulatory Procedures - Skin)
- RVU: Relative Value Units (RVUs) vary by geographic location and payer. Consult a relevant fee schedule for current values.
- Global Days: The global surgical period isn't explicitly defined for this code in the provided information but is generally determined by payer-specific guidelines.
- Payment Status: Active
- Modifier TC rule: A Technical Component (TC) modifier is not typically applicable to this code as it represents the entire service.
- Fee Schedule: Historical fee schedules are not provided, but they vary widely by geographic location, payer, and year. Consult payer-specific fee schedules for details.
- Specialties:General Surgery, Plastic Surgery, Emergency Medicine
- Place of Service:Office, Ambulatory Surgical Center, Hospital Inpatient, Hospital Outpatient, Emergency Room