2025 CPT code 15050
Effective Date: N/A Surgery - Integumentary System Feed
Pinch graft, single or multiple, to cover small ulcer, tip of digit, or other minimal open area (except on face), up to 2 cm diameter.
Modifiers may be applicable. For example, modifier 51 is used for multiple procedures, and modifier 59 for distinct procedural services.
Medical necessity for a pinch graft must be documented. This might include failed conservative treatments, the size and location of the wound not amenable to other closures, or risk of infection.
The physician prepares the patient and administers anesthesia. Then, they excise small pieces of skin from a donor site using a needle and scalpel. After closing the donor site, the grafts are applied to the recipient site and covered with a sterile dressing.
In simple words: A pinch graft is a minor skin graft used to cover small wounds like ulcers or the tip of a finger or toe.Small pieces of skin are taken from one area of your body and placed on the wound to help it heal.The wound must be small, less than 2 cm across, and cannot be on the face.
This code describes a procedure where small pieces of skin are taken from a donor site and placed onto a recipient site to cover a small wound.The recipient site can be a small ulcer, the tip of a finger or toe, or another small open area with a diameter of up to 2 cm. This procedure is not performed on the face.
Example 1: A patient has a small ulcer on their foot measuring 1.5 cm in diameter. A pinch graft is performed to promote healing., A patient has a small wound on their fingertip after an accident. A pinch graft is used to cover the wound and protect the exposed tissue., A patient presents with a chronic small ulcer on their leg of about 0.8 cm diameter. Due to poor healing, a pinch graft is opted for to help close up the wound.
Documentation should include the size and location of the recipient site, the number of grafts used, the location of the donor site, and the method of wound closure for both the donor and recipient sites.
- Specialties:Plastic Surgery, Dermatology, General Surgery
- Place of Service:Office, Outpatient Hospital, Ambulatory Surgical Center