2025 ICD-10-CM code T20
(Active) Effective Date: N/A Burns and corrosions - Injury, poisoning and certain other consequences of external causes 20 Feed
Burn and corrosion of head, face, and neck.
Modifiers may be applicable depending on the specific circumstances of the encounter. Consult official coding guidelines.
Medical necessity is established by the clinical evaluation and documentation of the burn injury. The documentation should support the need for medical intervention based on the severity of the injury.
Clinical responsibility for accurate documentation rests with the provider evaluating and treating the patient. Documentation should specify the degree and location of burns, the causative agent if known, and any associated complications.
- 20
- Injury, poisoning and certain other consequences of external causes (S00-T88)Burns and corrosions (T20-T32)Burns and corrosions of external body surface, specified by site (T20-T25)
In simple words: This code represents a burn or corrosion affecting the head, face, and neck area. It's important to note that this code doesn't include burns to the eardrum, eye, or mouth/pharynx, as those are covered by different codes.
Burn and corrosion of head, face, and neck.Excludes2: burn and corrosion of ear drum (T28.41, T28.91) burn and corrosion of eye and adnexa (T26.-) burn and corrosion of mouth and pharynx (T28.0)
Example 1: A patient presents with first-degree burns on their forehead and cheek after accidentally spilling hot coffee on themselves., A welder sustains second-degree burns to their face and neck from sparks during a welding accident. Documentation should also specify the extent of the body surface involved., A child experiences third-degree burns to their scalp, face, and neck from a house fire. Documentation should include details about the total body surface area affected.
Documentation should clearly specify the location and degree of the burn (first, second, or third-degree), the causative agent (e.g., hot liquid, flame, chemical), the percentage of body surface area involved, and any associated injuries or complications.If a foreign body is retained as a result of the injury event, it should be documented and coded separately.
** For burns involving multiple sites, multiple codes should be assigned as appropriate. Use additional code(s) from Chapter 20, External causes of morbidity, to indicate the cause of injury. Codes within the T section that include the external cause do not require an additional external cause code.
- Specialties:Emergency Medicine, Burn Specialists, Plastic Surgery, General Surgery
- Place of Service:Inpatient Hospital, Emergency Room - Hospital, Office, Outpatient Hospital, etc.